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From Amazon.co.uk
An impressive film from director Philip Noyce, The Quiet American proves that elegant and intelligent film-making can be emotionally powerful. Michael Caine plays Thomas Fowler, a British journalist in 1950s Vietnam with a lovely Vietnamese mistress named Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen) and a jaded view of the political strife teeming around him. He befriends a seemingly innocuous American named Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), who falls in love with Phuong--and slowly, Pyle's real purpose in Vietnam becomes revealed. Fowler finds that, to hold on to the carefully balanced life he's created for himself, he must make choices he's long avoided. Caine and Fraser are both superb and give a human face to complicated politics; as a result, The Quiet American manages to be compelling as both history and a story about very specific people embroiled in a very personal conflict. --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
Phillip Noyce's adaptation of the novel by Graham Greene (also adapted in 1958 by Joseph L. Mankiewicz) was initially due for release in 2001 but held back after the events of 9/11, due to its critical view of the US role in Vietnam during the 1950s. British journalist Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine), who is covering the initial events that led to the Indo-China war in 1952, comes under suspicion of murder when the body of a young American, Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), is found floating in the river. Their story is told in flashback, as the American arrives in Vietnam, apparently to provide medical aid in the war. However, Pyle is not who he first appears to be...
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
When I bought my ticket for this film in the cinema I immediately regretted buying it and nearly turned back to get a refund based on my pre-judged assumptions that this was to be a terrible film. The misleading trailers that created this image gave way for an immensely pleasant surprise as I watched the film.
Set in Vietnam, the story follows Michael Cane as a journalist, living with his Vietnamese mistress, reporting on events during the war. A friendship with Brandon Fraser, leads to an unravelling plot of conspiring events in Vietnam based around this friendship, and the test of friendship when a woman is added into the equation.
The films excellent story proves to be a film that keeps the watcher constantly thinking, suspicious of all characters and in a changing mindset of what will unravel next.
An excellent film, well worth watching!!!
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Otto99
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
I came to this film as a fan of both Graham Greene and Michael Caine. The screenplay is a very faithful adaptation of the novel, and the characterisation and settings are excellent. The Vietnamese scenery is stunning throughout, the mud-blasted hell of Phat Diem contrasting vividly with the polite finesse of French-Colonial Saigon. Caine dominates the picture with a mighty but human performance as Fowler, the journalist desperately trying to cling on to his relationship with young Vietnamese beauty Phuong (played by the lovely Do Thi Hai Yen). Into their world comes the quiet American, Aiden Pyle, played in a suitably underhand manner by a chubby Brendan Fraser.
The film is well-paced and the "action" sequences are very well done, particularly the infamous bombing in the square which is recreated with frightening realism. I found it all totally gripping, even though I knew the plot and the outcome. The scenes between Caine and Fraser show these two at their very best, Caine surely at yet another high in his career.
In terms of extras, you don't get much - just a documentary on the filming of the bomb sequence, which is interesting. But I often feel there is too much emphasis on DVD extras anyway - in this case the film itself is more than enough and one that will repay many viewings.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although Michael Caine was nominated for an Oscar for his performance, this film went largely unnoticed. That's a shame, as it presents a true love story form a period of time in a place largely ignored - 1952 Vietnam. Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) is a married British journalist who is in love with a beautiful young Vietnamese woman and writes for the British press. He has found his true paradise. Director Philip Noyce is able to bring out the humid, romantic nuance of war-torn Vietnam. An American physician named Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser) appears out of nowhere and confesses his love for Fowler's lover. What ensues is a seemingly gentlemanly sparring for the affections of Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen). As the story unfolds, we find that Pyle is not all he seems, Fowler is less lazy than previously thought and Phuong is torn (with lots of help from her selfish sister). The revelations come slowly and subtly and the back-drop of the early fifties Vietnam is hypnotizing. By the end of the film, the surprises are revealed and nothing is what it had seemed, although the viewer is left with the nagging thought of what will happen after this?
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good and arrived quickly
Excellent cast. Michael Caine is brilliant as always. What an acting talent. Good program for a cold evening. Definitely recommended.
Published 27 days ago by Mrs. Rylla Dragan
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE QUIET AMERICAN
This excellent and exciting film provided many happy memories of my holiday in Vietnam, both north and south and the kind people that we met there.
Published 1 month ago by M. J. Day
5.0 out of 5 stars
Set in Saigon, a Beautiful, Exotic and Mysterious City
The Quiet American," (2002), a romantic war/political drama, is the second treatment to be made of the book of the same name, The Quiet American, by the great British master of the... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Stephanie DePue
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Quality Film....
I've decided to say very little about this movie, except that it's one of quiet quality - the story, the screenplay, the acting by all and the location work. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Tim Kidner
5.0 out of 5 stars
A film of quality
This story is one of Graham Greene's finest and this screen version superbly portrays the events in the story through ideal characterisations. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2011 by Mr. D. L. Hudson
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Quiet American in colour
Recently we decided to go to Viet Nam and as part of the preparations have watched both versions of the Quiet American. Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2010 by P. R. Hopkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Quiet American
Having visited Vietnam recently I thought I would like to see this film as it highlighted some of the places I have visited. It was excelent.
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by Barbara Brookes
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mediocre adaptation
Never having been a Michael Caine fan, I approached this film with fairly low expectations, and for the most part these were realised. Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2009 by Captain Pugwash
4.0 out of 5 stars
Like Greeks who bear gifts, beware the quiet American
"These Americans are causing a lot of trouble for us." Not the words of a Vietnamese in this film, but of the French detective charged with solving the murder of a young American... Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2009 by Nicholas Casley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as the book but a good try.
I do not know if Michael Caine was ideal in the role as the "burnt out" journalist in indo china.However the story is an excellent one,and one that gives an insight into the... Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2007 by Hugh M. Dowdalls
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