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The Quiet American

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The Quiet American (2002)

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89 %
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Reviews Counted:140

Fresh:124

Rotten:16

Average Rating:7.8/10

Consensus: Thoughtful and wonderfully acted, The Quiet American manages to capture the spirit of Green's novel.

Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

Genre: Dramas

US Box Office: $12,843,884

Synopsis: Set in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1952 during the French Indochina war, THE QUIET AMERICAN is based on the mystery story by Graham Greene, and directed by Phillip Noyce. A middle-aged British reporter for... Set in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1952 during the French Indochina war, THE QUIET AMERICAN is based on the mystery story by Graham Greene, and directed by Phillip Noyce. A middle-aged British reporter for the London Times, Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine), has been working in Vietnam, covering politics and enjoying the local culture. He lives with a beautiful young woman, Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen), a taxi dancer who he rescued from that undesirable profession. He cannot marry her, because he is already married to a Catholic woman in London who does not believe in divorce. But he truly loves her. When a young American doctor, Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), falls in love with Phuong, threatening to take her from Fowler, everything changes. Not only is Fowler's romantic life put in danger, but he begins to uncover disturbing information about the U.S.'s involvement in the war. An intriguing and atmospheric love story as well as a riveting mystery, THE QUIET AMERICAN features top-notch performances from Caine and Fraser, who maintain an eager intensity throughout the film. Combining the mysterious beauty of Saigon with the strangeness of the war, the film is suspenseful and effective. [More]

Starring: Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen

Starring: Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen

Director: Phillip Noyce

Director: Phillip Noyce
Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton, Robert Schenkkan
Producer: William Horberg, Staffan Ahrenberg
Studio: Miramax Films

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Reviews for The Quiet American

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
03/07/03
Sydney Morning Herald
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Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
11/26/02
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: FilmFour.com | comment Comment
10/30/02
FilmFour.com
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You've gotta see this movie.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
11/22/02
E! Online
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N/R

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Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
11/30/02
This is London
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
12/02/02
Guardian [UK]
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Perhaps only Peter Bogdanovich's Singapore-set Saint Jack (1979) has better caught this humid expatriate dream of decay, desire and death.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
02/07/03
San Diego Union-Tribune
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N/R

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Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
03/01/03
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
07/02/03
Boston Phoenix
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
08/02/03
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
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Adapts a Graham Greene novel with something approaching economy but far removed from finesse.

Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
03/25/03
Adam Nayman
Adam Nayman
eye WEEKLY

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Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
04/05/03
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

Mr. Caine and Mr. Fraser are the whole show here, with their memorable and resourceful performances.

Full Review Source: New York Observer | comment Comment
12/19/02
Andrew Sarris
Andrew Sarris
New York Observer

The narrative is lean, the supporting performances are solid, and, perhaps most crucially, the emotional tone of the piece is spot-on.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
02/07/03
Ann Hornaday
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
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An intelligent, high quality film that is timely and pertinent to today's headlines...weakened by Fraser's performance

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
12/16/02
Arthur Lazere
Arthur Lazere
culturevulture.net
N/R

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Full Review Source: Dallas Observer | comment Comment
02/07/03
Bill Gallo
Bill Gallo
Dallas Observer

In a seemingly effortless performance, Caine dominates every scene in the film, not by what he does but by what he doesn't do.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
02/07/03
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for The Quiet American

April 29, 2008: Philip Noyce Learning The Art of Making Money Opens in new window
Philip Noyce is in talks to direct DreamWorks' The Art of Making Money, a film about notorious counterfeiter Art Williams. More...

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