On Q List of Movie Reviews
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The Quiet American (2002)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
12/04, 11/19
11/19:
Well, The Quiet American is about Michael Caine slaying everybody with his superior acting, hence the
sixth and possibly final Oscar nomination of his long esteemed career.
A remake of the 1958 version, it's predictable as the Vietnam War will be imminent (duh). Hence, the best time
to make the film is right after the release of Graham Greene's book just like James Jones'
From Here to Eternity. That way, the cinematic power can be retained.
As a matter of fact, they actually did in 1958, but I haven't seen it yet and this is a remake.
Nonetheless, the acting is passable. Even better is the cinematography as it's shot on location in Hanoi,
Saigon, Ninh Bình and Hội An, Vietnam. Appearing to be miscast at first, Brendan Fraser does drama for a change
and isn't bad himself as Alden Pyle. Armed with a bare-bones résumé of film credits, Đỗ Thị Hải Yến is nothing
special. Once again, Michael Caine is too good and therefore needs a stronger cast to throw his weight around with.
The story works well for a while, but it abruptly feels rushed in the last twenty minutes which is a signal as
in "Oh, shit. We're running out of time." The gist I've gotten from this picture is: Thomas Fowler's life with
his Vietnamese mistress was blissful until a young white man entered the picture, he didn't like that and had
him killed through a clever means, and things returned to normal thereafter.
Speaking of predictable, I knew a mile ahead that Alden Pyle was going to be revealed as a CIA agent. Let
me thank Phillip Noyce of Patriot Games and
Clear and Present Danger for tipping me off by having his name
in the opening credits. Who can believe Pyle as the bumbling ophthalmologist in, of all places, Saigon, Vietnam?
It's interesting to see him handle the gun quite well and take cover like a pro during the ambush of a watchtower.
By the way, you might hear "French Indochina" from time to time. The term is no longer in use as the region
was comprised of Annam, Tonkin, Cochin-China (or Quinam), Guangzhouwan, Cambodia, and Laos. After the Vietnam
War, the first three is merged as Vietnam, the fourth is part of Zhanjiang which is a city in China, and the
last two are apparent enough.
All in all, given the same theme, The Ugly American with Marlon Brando
is the recommended choice over The Quiet American.