FilmBuff1994 The Quiet American is a great movie with a very well developed plot and a terrific cast. It's a very deep film that takes place at the forefront of the war in Saigon, with the story being retold by a journalist. However, it never gets too invested in to this war, mainly focusing on a love triangle, giving the film a lot of intimacy, as well as a surreal side story to go along with it. Though a large majority of the scenes are slow and dialogue heavy, it had me at the edge of my seat throughout as a result of the intensity of words, rather than actions. There were, however, times were I found it difficult to support Thomas Fowler, he was clearly an arrogant, self centred man, who cared about no one other than himself. It becomes difficult to route for someone who is only out for himself, even at the midst of these serious events, I just feel the character could have been given more humanity. The performances are all around stellar. Brendan Fraser shines in the greatest role I have seen him in, conveying a lot of subtle emotions as Aiden Pyle, and Do Thi Hai Yen has a excellent presence, as well as beautiful chemistry with both male leads. The highlight of the film is, of course, Michael Caine in one of his most layered performances. He has so much depth as Fowler, with so much development of the character coming from Caine doing and saying nothing at all, merely just being. A hard hitting drama that kept me invested throughout. Sweet and engrossing, The Quiet American is worth the watch for anyone looking for a good drama. The comfortable life of a British journalist soon changes as he finds himself caught in a love triangle while covering the conflict in Vietnam. Best Performance: Michael Caine

writetopcat Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) the journalist sees a village massacre attributed to the communists and mutters to himself "this doesn't make sense. communists don't kill villagers, it isn't in their interest." The film later implies that the American backed general running as an anti communist was responsible for the massacre. This of course flies in the face of the facts of the conflict. The communists were responsible for horrible massacres of villages of people. A close personal friend who was there for 4 years personally witnessed what the communists did to Vietnamese villagers, the butchery, people skinned alive and stuck to trees with bayonets, bombings and other torturous killings. This is yet one more Hollywood film of revisionist history painting a happy face on communism. Fowler betrays his American friend into communist hands at the end of the movie. He had to know they would kill him though the film portrays Fowler as believing nothing would happen to him. He appears to have second thoughts about having done so; this is the film's way of keeping the pro communist painted as a good guy. But Fowler's second thoughts are not enough to warn him that the communists were about to kidnap him. His American friend winds up dead, killed by the Fowler's communist sympathizing assistant.The film was well made, good acting and a good story, except for the pro communist slant.

Rich Wright Michael Caine may be one of the most imitable actors around today, but you can always rely on him to deliver a class performance. Here, as a newspaper foreign affairs reporter, he risks losing the love of his life to a flash Yank, and being forced to quit the country he loves due to budget cuts, and you can see his understated pain in every syllable. Who'd have thought Brendan Fraser could act so well too... as the titular character, he befriends Caine while stealing his girl right under his nose, at a time when women in Vietnam were valued about as much as cattle. ALWAYS beware of the Quiet ones...We then get an in-depth look at American international political agendas, as they seek to place the people THEY want in charge across the world... and they're prepared to go to any methods to achieve it. The particular attempt noted in this film was a disaster though, and lead to the Vietnam War. Oops. Though this is a fictitious tale, parts are rooted in reality... I'm sure. When will they learn to keep their noses out?! As for the rest, it's a well shot, thought-provoking drama with undertones of tragedy.... But for who? 6/10

Desertman84 The Quiet American is a film adaptation of Graham Greene's bestselling novel of the same title. This version of the novel in contrast to the 1958 version, depicted Greene's original ending and treatment of the principal American character, Pyle. Like the novel, the film illustrates Pyle's moral culpability in fostering intrigue within the South Vietnamese government. Going beyond Greene's original work, the film used a montage ending with superimposed images of American soldiers from the intervening decades of the Vietnam War.It features starred Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, and Do Thi Hai Yen; and is directed by Phillip Noyce.Thomas Fowler is a British journalist who in 1952 is covering the early stages of the war in Indo-China for the London Times, not a demanding assignment since few in England are especially interested in the conflict. When not filing occasional reports, Fowler spends his time with Phuong, a beautiful woman who shares lovemaking and opium with Fowler and is willing to accept the fact the married journalist will never make her his wife. Fowler becomes friendly with Alden Pyle, a cheerful and articulate if seemingly naïve American who is in Saigon as part of a medical mission. As Fowler and Pyle develop a closer friendship, Pyle is introduced to Phuong, and the American soon becomes infatuated with her. When Fowler's editors suggest he return to London, he responds by digging himself deeper in covering the war, and Pyle attempts to take Phuong away; she soon rejects him. Undaunted, Pyle continues with his work, but Fowler discovers that medical help is not what the American is bringing to Vietnam. Pyle is in fact a CIA operative who is helping to organize and finance a "Third Force" who will battle Ho Chi Min's forces as well as the French and their allies. Fowler also learns that Pyle is behind a series of bombings which are believed to have been carried out by Communist extremists, and faces the ugly fact that his American friend is in fact a terrorist killing in the name of Uncle Sam's political interests.This is a smart and literate effort that despite some weaknesses in overall conception has one undeniable virtue: There's not a single weak scene.Added to that,it has great performances especially Michael Caine, whose portrayal as an English reporter goaded out of his comfortable, opium-clouded, ex-pat lifestyle ranks among the very best of his career.And also,the subtle and penetrating film made to look effortless as nothing is forced or pushed, so much so that it's easy to overlook the extraordinary challenges posed by Graham Greene's novel and it manages to capture its spirit.Overall,it may be a not especially unusual mystery/thriller, but it's still a solid and entertaining one at that.Indeed,it is a masterpiece and a must-see!!!