I read the book long ago, so this was a bit of a Graham Greene refresher and a pleasant one at that. Not pleasant in subject matter of course. It’s a very dark film, and somewhat plodding, but Michael Caine’s acting is just splendid for the part, and when he cries in the restroom…well, it was unexpected and moving. Brendan Fraser comes off a bit clumsy by comparison. What I enjoyed most was how well director Phillip Noyce captured the feel of 1950s Vietnam. I spent a lot of time in Southeast Asia and it was very well recreated.

Graham Greene’s novel of the implications of cross-political involvements in 1950s Vietnam offered Mr Noyce a potential wealth of historical action for cinematic correlatives. However, Mr Noyce aimed at Mr Greene’s allegorical drama instead and told the symbolist story of the nonchalance of the French army, the complacence of the British journalist (Mr Caine), the manipulations of the American collaborator (Brendan Fraser), and the resigned ways of the colonized (the lovely Do Thi Hai Yen).

Despite its colorful metaphors, the emotional development of Quiet American is slow and the climactic resolution obvious. Mr Noyce spends so much time building up the relationship between the British and Vietnamese characters that the subsequent scenes appear rushed. I am not aware of the full breadth of Mr Caine’s acting canon, but the nuances of his performance here are exceptionally strong. Miss Yen ‘s character does not allow her to show the conflicts of the colonized native; nevertheless, her screen presence is a statement to the nobility of the Southeast Asian. True to form, Mr Fraser’s acting is uninspired, but perhaps he is simply being a quiet American.

Originally posted on http://www.paulancheta.com/personal/thoughts/quiet.html

It’s tough to do a good symbolic movie. The characters have a tendency to become stick figures for the points they are intended to illustrate. The symbolism here relates to the beginning of the U.S.’s involvement in the Vietnam war. This movie handle it pretty well.

Brendan Frasier’s acting doesn’t sit well with me. His delivery doesn’t strike me as natural or believable. It’s too obvious he’s acting. Quite the opposite with old pro Michael Caine.