Sneaks up on you...
Phillip Noyce
directed two films this year that merit
consideration among the year's best. 'Rabbit
Proof Fence' was one of those, and the other,
'The Quiet American', is the more thoughtful &
intelligent, but less emotional of the two. It
is a compelling tale of an aging reporter named
Fowler (Caine), living in Vietnam during the
1960's, who is in love with a young woman named
Phuong. It's not important that she doesn't love
him in the conventional sense. He provides her
with security and hope... She provides him with
feelings of youthful love which left his
marriage long ago.
One day, a young man named Alden Pyle (Fraser)
befriends Fowler. They hit it off immediately in
a place where friends seem hard to come by. The
story takes place at the beginning of the
conflict in Vietnam, and Pyle's reasons for
being there are unclear and suspicious. The real
complications ensue when Pyle confesses to
Fowler that he is falling in love with Phuong...
it is only then that Fowler realizes how much he
has to lose to this quiet and unassuming
American. Fowler thinks to himself that, "Saving
the country and saving a woman would be the same
thing to a man like that." He also admits that,
"I know I'm not essential to Phuong, but if I
were to lose her, for me that would be the
beginning of death."
This film is brilliant in that the love story
parallels the incursion of America into Vietnam.
It's brilliant in that it is so delicately
handled... most people won't even recognize it's
there. 'The Quiet American' works on many
levels, all of which satisfy.
Michael Caine's performance is the standout role
in a film with uniformly good acting across the
board. Brendan Fraser has had bad taste
throughout his career... but when he chooses
well and puts his mind to it, he can deliver a
layered and subtle performance.
The only thing that bothers me about the movie
is that I felt a sense of detachment from the
characters. I never truly felt for any of them
the way I think the screenplay intends us to. I
was intrigued but unmoved.
For that reason alone, I think this film misses
out on greatness. I highly recommend this film
and hope that many of you will seek it out at
your earliest convenience. It is a shame that
films like this don't make it in to mainstream
theatres... it deserves a bigger audience that
it will inevitably get.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
Destined
for more success on DVD, this film starring
Brendan Fraser and Michael Caine is unexpectedly
powerful in presenting a love story at the
beginning of the Vietnam War. I agree with TC's
observation regarding detachment from the
characters, and feel this detachment definitely
keeps the film from achieving greatness. I've
long been a Fraser fan, and this performance,
along with "Gods & Monsters," may well be his
finest.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
