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 his sixth and possibly
final Oscar nomination.
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, but the cinematography is even better as it's shot on location in Hanoi, Saigon, Ninh Bình
and Hội An, Vietnam. Appearing miscast, 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 even 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 now 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 my
recommended choice over The Quiet American.