A compelling look at a situation from history that parallels contemporary times.
The Quiet American (2002)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
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.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for images of violence and some language
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:Nov 22, 2002 Limited
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
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Release:
Jul 29, 2003
Reviews for The Quiet American
My initial reaction was of having seen a great story of political intrigue told well, but as I sit here thinking, levels of depth... slowly begin to open up to me.
Adapts a Graham Greene novel with something approaching economy but far removed from finesse.
'Una tranquila pero recia interpretación de Michael Caine, que realiza uno de sus mejores trabajos en años.'
[Caine's] performance is absolutely perfect, a study in restraint and subtlety that should be used as an acting course.
A smart and gutsy work that argues Americans are prone to repeating the mistakes of history instead of learning from them.
Like Sunset Boulevard, [this film] starts with a lifeless body, then puts the murder in perspective. It’s a good cinematic structure, one perfect for a film that cares less about the crime than the journey toward it.
"The Quiet American" begins in Saigon in 1952. That's its first sign of trouble.
... journey into one particular heart of darkness, an organ that nevertheless pumps warm blood.
Eliminates the last traces of Greene's religious motifs and focuses entirely on political and interpersonal themes. Yet these are at the heart of Greene's story, so as an adaptation it succeeds where End of the Affair failed.
It’s a political film, but not in the way that an Oliver Stone film is political. Rather, it’s political in the way that Casablanca is a movie about politics (it’s romantic and entertaining and tells a story about interesting people).
Noyce and the screenwriters have nailed Greene with the kind of accuracy not seen since Carol Reed's two Greene films, The Third Man and Our Man in Havana.
It's Caine who deserves the Best Actor trophy, delivering not only the finest male performance of 2002 but also one of the best of his entire career.
Latest News for The Quiet American
April 29, 2008:
Philip Noyce Learning The Art of Making Money ![]()
Philip Noyce is in talks to direct DreamWorks' The Art of Making Money, a film about notorious counterfeiter Art Williams. More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- The Quiet American at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Quiet American at IGN
- The Quiet American at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!






