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Movies / On DVD / The Quiet American
The Quiet American

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The Quiet American (2002)

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Reviews Counted:140

Fresh:124

Rotten:16

Average Rating:7.8/10

Consensus: Thoughtful and wonderfully acted, The Quiet American manages to capture the spirit of Green's novel.

Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

Genre: Dramas

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... 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]

Starring: Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen

Starring: Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen

Director: Phillip Noyce

Director: Phillip Noyce
Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton, Robert Schenkkan
Producer: William Horberg, Staffan Ahrenberg
Studio: Miramax Films

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Reviews for The Quiet American

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
4/5

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 30 2006 06:41 AM

Empire Magazine

N/R

Derek Adams

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 04:04 AM

Time Out

splat

Christopher Tookey

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.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 16 2002 01:49 PM

Daily Mail [UK]

splat
2.5/4

Ian Waldron-Mantgani

I'm not exactly sure what this movie thinks it is about.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 10 2002 08:14 AM

UK Critic

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 02 2002 08:14 AM

Guardian [UK]

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 30 2002 08:13 AM

This is London

tomato
3/5

Matthew Turner

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 30 2002 08:13 AM

ViewLondon

tomato
4/5

Jason Best

Noyce's measured, intelligent film ... restores the novel's political and moral complexity.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 05 2002 08:13 AM

BBC

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 30 2002 08:15 AM

FilmFour.com

N/R

Rich Cline

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 30 2002 08:15 AM

Shadows on the Wall

N/R

Urban Cinefile Critics

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 05:58 AM

Urban Cinefile

tomato
5/5

Pablo Villaca

Além de trazer Caine em uma de suas melhores atuações, esta belíssima adaptação do livro de Greene combina com perfeição a tensão dramática de um triângulo amoroso e a complexidade política do maior teatro de guerra das décadas de 50 a 70.

comment Comment | Jul., 31 2008 02:16 AM

Cinema em Cena

tomato
3/4

Michael Dequina

The film may be a not especially unusual mystery/thriller, but it's still a solid and entertaining one at that.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 17 2007 12:40 PM

TheMovieReport.com

tomato
3/4

Joe Lozito

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 14 2007 05:13 AM

Big Picture Big Sound

N/R

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 26 2006 03:17 AM

Combustible Celluloid

tomato
4/5

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 08:00 PM

Film Threat

N/R

Stuart Klawans

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 03 2005 10:16 PM

Nation

tomato
B-

Louis-Jérôme Cloutier

La confrontation, mais aussi l’amitié entre ces deux comédiens au sommet de leur forme, font de The Quiet American un film solide.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 25 2005 09:45 PM

Panorama

tomato
A-

Jeffrey Overstreet

Noyce has coaxed out what may well be a career-best performance by Michael Caine.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 15 2005 10:46 PM

Looking Closer

splat
4/10

Tony Medley

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 07 2004 07:31 PM

tonymedley.com

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for The Quiet American

April 29, 2008: Philip Noyce Learning The Art of Making Money Opens in new window
Philip Noyce is in talks to direct DreamWorks' The Art of Making Money, a film about notorious counterfeiter Art Williams. More...

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