"The Quiet American" is going to make some Americans mad. Because of that, it probably won't get the recognition it deserves at Oscar time. But at this point in real time, with America poised to go to war against Iraq at the drop of a hate, this is a film every America should see.
Ostensibly, this second screen adaptation of the 1955 Graham Greene novel is a love triangle set in an exotic locale, Saigon in 1952 when Indochina was France's problem and America was supposedly nothing more than an interested observer.
In short, it's a story about a jaded, opium using British journalist who essentially has been doing as little work as possible, then suddenly finds that if he doesn't start filing some dispatches soon,he is going to be called home to London by his paper. That makes him unhappy, since he'll have to give up his fetching Vietnamese mistress. And to complicate things still further, an idealistic young American aid mission employee shows up, falls in love with the Englishman's girl on the spot, and poses a strong risk of taking her away from him.
But what's underneath all this is the behind the scenes political jockeying for control of Vietnam. It's a three sided fight between the French, the Communists and military free booters who are backed by the United States. Before long, it becomes clear that the "Quiet American" is really in Saigon to do a lot more than bring better eye care to the Vietnamese.
Directed by Australian veteran Philip Noyce, this is a beautifully shot, wonderfully paced film that rivets your attention on the screen almost from the first frame. A lot of that has to do with the acting of Michael Caine. He turns in a strong, if slightly understated performance as a man fighting to hold on to the only thing of value he has in life, a girl half his age.
Brendan Frazer is also good as the all American boy who seems so sincere in the beginning that he's too good to be true.
And Do Thi Hai Yen seems perfect as the girl caught between them. And the interesting thing about her character as filmed by Noyce is this. She is no angel. In fact, she in many ways seems to symbolize Vietnam itself. She's just trying to cut the best deal she can.
This film was shelved for a year because of 9-11. Now it's in theaters in limited release and hopefully will go wider soon. It's a movie with a lot to say and without giving too much away, I'll hint at the message. Americans, who have grown extremely skeptical about what their government tells them here at home, should not make the mistake of thinking it never lies about its activities overseas.
To me one of the great mysteries of 9-11 is how, in the year since the tragedy, the FBI and CIA, two much maligned agencies that had almost become the butt of jokes, could suddenly be looked upon as our best friends when they failed to prevent the attack in the first place.
This movie says there may be other attacks these agencies also failed to prevent, and not by accident, either.
Ostensibly, this second screen adaptation of the 1955 Graham Greene novel is a love triangle set in an exotic locale, Saigon in 1952 when Indochina was France's problem and America was supposedly nothing more than an interested observer.
In short, it's a story about a jaded, opium using British journalist who essentially has been doing as little work as possible, then suddenly finds that if he doesn't start filing some dispatches soon,he is going to be called home to London by his paper. That makes him unhappy, since he'll have to give up his fetching Vietnamese mistress. And to complicate things still further, an idealistic young American aid mission employee shows up, falls in love with the Englishman's girl on the spot, and poses a strong risk of taking her away from him.
But what's underneath all this is the behind the scenes political jockeying for control of Vietnam. It's a three sided fight between the French, the Communists and military free booters who are backed by the United States. Before long, it becomes clear that the "Quiet American" is really in Saigon to do a lot more than bring better eye care to the Vietnamese.
Directed by Australian veteran Philip Noyce, this is a beautifully shot, wonderfully paced film that rivets your attention on the screen almost from the first frame. A lot of that has to do with the acting of Michael Caine. He turns in a strong, if slightly understated performance as a man fighting to hold on to the only thing of value he has in life, a girl half his age.
Brendan Frazer is also good as the all American boy who seems so sincere in the beginning that he's too good to be true.
And Do Thi Hai Yen seems perfect as the girl caught between them. And the interesting thing about her character as filmed by Noyce is this. She is no angel. In fact, she in many ways seems to symbolize Vietnam itself. She's just trying to cut the best deal she can.
This film was shelved for a year because of 9-11. Now it's in theaters in limited release and hopefully will go wider soon. It's a movie with a lot to say and without giving too much away, I'll hint at the message. Americans, who have grown extremely skeptical about what their government tells them here at home, should not make the mistake of thinking it never lies about its activities overseas.
To me one of the great mysteries of 9-11 is how, in the year since the tragedy, the FBI and CIA, two much maligned agencies that had almost become the butt of jokes, could suddenly be looked upon as our best friends when they failed to prevent the attack in the first place.
This movie says there may be other attacks these agencies also failed to prevent, and not by accident, either.