QUIET AMERICAN, THE
Released: February 7, 2003
Graham Greene's novel "The Quiet American" (1955) was given the movie adaptation back in 1958 but this new version by director Phillip Noyce sticks closer to Greene's novel. Having just directed the very good "Rabbit-Proof Fence", Noyce takes on this story with just as much passion. The setting is Saigon, 1952. London Times reporter Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) has become drunk on the exotic beauty and decadence of the war-torn city, which is witnessing almost daily political upheavals. Fowler has a mistress, Phuong (newcomer Do Thi Hai Yen), whom he loves dearly, but cannot marry. Enter American medical director Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), who has come to the land to help the needy, but soon develops feelings for Phuong, along with a friendship with Fowler. As the two quietly compete for Phuong's heart, Fowler begins to investigate the emergence of a new leader in Vietnam, who is showing persuasive and treacherous ties to Pyle. "I'm just a reporter, I offer no point of view, I take no action, I don't get involved", says Caine's Fowler character before having to most definitely take a side. While I found the film entertaining, there was a sense of a story in no hurry to come to a conclusion. The action and thrills do come, but with a confident pace that might leave the action fans wanting. The story starts rather soap opera-ish but as we venture further into the labyrinth of complexities the Pyle character exhibits and the way Fowler deals with it, we are drawn in, almost seduced. It's a worthy tale and Noyce knows how to craft it in such a way that builds, almost snowballs, into much more grave situations. It's worth seeing alone for the performances from Caine and Fraser (who is rarely given the opportunity to really bust his acting chops in this kind of material)...
118 Minutes
Miramax/Buena Vista