Review of The Quiet American (2002) by Toby H — 19 Nov 2016

We've seen so many films on Vietnam. Everything from Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, the killing field and even A Thin Red line. Never have we seen a drama under the backdrop of Vietnam BEFORE the US and Vietnam war. The Quiet American is an excellent book to film adaptation starring the magnificent Michael Caine and one Brendan Fraser.

Caine plays Thomas Fowler a reporter who has lived in Saigon for sometime. he has a lover named Pheong and gets paid by his people in London. What many don't know is he stays in Saigon to escape his dreary life in England. He one day meets a mysterious man named Alden Pyle who claims to be an aid worker. As the film infolds we see many secrets are revealed and it relates to the battle going on between the French and the Vietnamese in the year 1952.

So this was pretty decent. its such a different look into Saigon. this is not the Vietnam war it's a different time in this country that is even synominous to us in the US. the love triangle makes for one hell of a thrown in to this already semi political film. Really dug the score here and its hats off to the cinematography. Its got the grimey murkey look to it, so well shot.

Michael caine is fantastic here. just like pyle he is a very complex man who has an attachment to Saigon. sees the place as an escape from an unsatisfactory life in London. he even tries to escape from his duties as a reporter but even that comes back to bite you in the ass and he realizes that big time here. I love caine's narration he's like the English morgan freeman especially when it comes to narrating a film or anything for that matter. Brendan fraser was also very good here. He plays a really mysterious character who later is revealed to play a major role that shakes up things so much. I've never seen him better than in this role.

Really intricate plot and dialogue. the adaptation was well done. good lighting too. The ending was a bit predictable at least for me but it was fitting none the less. Go check this out when you can.