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The Quiet American (2002)
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Synopsis: Set in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1952 during the French Indochina war, THE QUIET AMERICAN is based on the mystery story by Graham Greene, and directed by Phillip Noyce. A middle-aged British reporter for the London Times, Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine), has been working in Vietnam, covering... Set in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1952 during the French Indochina war, THE QUIET AMERICAN is based on the mystery story by Graham Greene, and directed by Phillip Noyce. A middle-aged British reporter for the London Times, Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine), has been working in Vietnam, covering politics and enjoying the local culture. He lives with a beautiful young woman, Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen), a taxi dancer who he rescued from that undesirable profession. He cannot marry her, because he is already married to a Catholic woman in London who does not believe in divorce. But he truly loves her. When a young American doctor, Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), falls in love with Phuong, threatening to take her from Fowler, everything changes. Not only is Fowler's romantic life put in danger, but he begins to uncover disturbing information about the U.S.'s involvement in the war. An intriguing and atmospheric love story as well as a riveting mystery, THE QUIET AMERICAN features top-notch performances from Caine and Fraser, who maintain an eager intensity throughout the film. Combining the mysterious beauty of Saigon with the strangeness of the war, the film is suspenseful and effective. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen
Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton, Robert Schenkkan
Producer: William Horberg, Staffan Ahrenberg
Reviews
The reason I found myself finally unmoved by this film, which is immaculately produced and has serious things to say, is that it comes across rather too plainly as allegory.
Noyce's measured, intelligent film ... restores the novel's political and moral complexity.
The film may be a not especially unusual mystery/thriller, but it's still a solid and entertaining one at that.
La confrontation, mais aussi l’amitié entre ces deux comédiens au sommet de leur forme, font de The Quiet American un film solide.
Noyce has coaxed out what may well be a career-best performance by Michael Caine.
Provides enough action to keep the restive in their seats, but the real excitement here is Greene's finely-drawn characters and the two performances that keep them alive.
The Quiet American takes the viewer inside opium dens and dance halls. It peeks behind the curtains of political intrigues and exposes their violent consequences.
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