The Quiet American Reviews

Since I'm a huge fan of Michael Caine, I was really eager to check this flick. Eventually, I have even seen it a couple of times. Basically, it is a pretty solid spy feature with, as usual, a terrific performance by Caine who was even nominated at the Academy awards. Basically, it is a rather sober and realistic spy feature, especially if you compare it to all the non-sense displayed in the James Bond franchise. So, here, you don't have some huge action pieces but some pretty interesting characters instead. I think Philip Noyce should be credited as well as he managed to create a really nice mood and there was definitely something fascinating about Saigon in the 50's. Still, even though I enjoyed this flick, I wasn't completely blown away though. First of all, I always have a hard time to take Brendan Fraser seriously as a dramatic actor, or as an actor altogether, but I have to admit, he gave one of his better performances here. Furthermore, even though the plot was entertaining enough, it was not really fascinating in my opinion. Still, it remains a pretty good flick and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

A satisfying, if not extraordinary adaptation of Graham Greene's novel. Two men, one middle aged Britisher, one young American vie for the affections of a young Vietnamese girl against the backdrop of the civil war and subsequent invasion of Vietnam by the Americans. Graham Greene deals in metaphors and irony throughout. The book is brilliant, the movie is merely good.