During a time when the United States is invading Iraq for intentions still unclear, it is refreshing to see that studios
are still willing to release a few criticisms here and there. The Quiet American looks at Vietnam during the time of French occupation, just a decade before the United States declared war with the communists, with a critical opinion of motives and actions the American government took to arrive at such a declaration. That is only an underlying theme, though. On the surface, The Quiet American is a thriller about a love triangle between a British reporter, an idealistic American and a young, Vietnamese beauty that eventually leads to murder. The many-layered story makes for one of the better movies of the year.
Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser and Do Thi Hai Yen star as Thomas Fowler, Alden Pyle and Phuong respectively, the players caught in a triangle at a time when the country was on the verge of collapse. Caine does an exceptional job as the wise but love-blinded reporter that has tried to remain neutral for so long; there is just something about his voice that commands the screen. Oscar voters agreed - he earned himself a nomination, but lost to Adrien Brody of The Pianist.
Fraser pulls a wild card out of his hat and turns in a serious performance for a change, showing that he is capable of actually acting, compared to goofing around on the sets of such unlikable films as The Mummy Returns and Monkeybone (granted he has some good goofy movies as well). We last saw a performance like this out of him in Gods and Monsters, in which he costarred with Ian McKellen. Fraser does a good job here, though there still is just something about his voice that is a little offsetting. Nevertheless, I enjoy when comedic actors take a dark turn, and I enjoyed Fraser here.