The Quiet American (2002)

87% of critics liked it
(150 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(9,678 ratings)

Graham Greene's allegorical novel about America's role in the Vietnam conflict, and how it was perceived by the rest of the world, is brought to the screen for the second time in this adaptation directed by Phillip Noyce. Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) is a British journalist who in 1952 is covering… More Graham Greene's allegorical novel about America's role in the Vietnam conflict, and how it was perceived by the rest of the world, is brought to the screen for the second time in this adaptation directed by Phillip Noyce. Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) is a British journalist who in 1952 is covering the early stages of the war in Indo-China for the London Times, not a demanding assignment since few in England are especially interested in the conflict. When not filing occasional reports, Fowler spends his time with Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen), a beautiful woman who shares lovemaking and opium with Fowler and is willing to accept the fact the married journalist will never make her his wife. Fowler becomes friendly with Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), a cheerful and articulate if seemingly naïve American who is in Saigon as part of a medical mission. As Fowler and Pyle develop a closer friendship, Pyle is introduced to Phuong, and the American soon becomes infatuated with her. When Fowler's editors suggest he return to London, he responds by digging himself deeper in covering the war, and Pyle attempts to take Phuong away; she soon rejects him. Undaunted, Pyle continues with his work, but Fowler discovers that medical help is not what the American is bringing to Vietnam. Pyle is in fact a CIA operative who is helping to organize and finance a "Third Force" who will battle Ho Chi Min's forces as well as the French and their allies. Fowler also learns that Pyle is behind a series of bombings which are believed to have been carried out by Communist extremists, and faces the ugly fact that his American friend is in fact a terrorist killing in the name of Uncle Sam's political interests. While completed in the fall of 2001, The Quiet American went unreleased until late 2002; after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the film's producers felt the film's critical view of America's role in the Vietnam war might be considered especially offensive. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Phillip Noyce
Written By: Christopher Hampton, Robert Schenkkan
Genres: Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Feb 7, 2003 Limited
On DVD: Jul 29, 2003
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Caine, who also starred in one other Greene adaptation, 1983's The Honorary Consul, is the essence of almost all the author's misfits -- a practiced cynic masking an aching romantic.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The Quiet American is a most disturbing film -- but disturbing in a good way.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
The Quiet American was filmed in Vietnam and does a wonderful job of conveying a sense of place and time.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
For Caine, it's a peak performance in a career that has had many of them.
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News
Old-fashioned storytelling in the best sense of the term.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
This is a smart and literate effort that despite some weaknesses in overall conception has one undeniable virtue: There's not a single weak scene.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
A subtle and penetrating work, made to look effortless; nothing is forced or pushed, so much so that it's easy to overlook the extraordinary challenges posed by Graham Greene's novel.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Além de trazer Caine em uma de suas melhores atuações, esta belíssima adaptação do livro de Greene combina com perfeição a tensão dramática de um triângulo amoroso e a complexidade política do maior teatro de guerra das décadas de 50 a 70.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
The film may be a not especially unusual mystery/thriller, but it's still a solid and entertaining one at that.
Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound
Mr. Noyce interweaves the political and romantic plots masterfully.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
What is best about great movies: the multiplicity of social and political forces that symbolically layer and exquisitely complicate unforgettable characters.
Alan Morrison, Empire Magazine
Oscar nominations it richly deserves, not least for Michael Caine, whose performance as an English reporter goaded out of his comfortable, opium-clouded, ex-pat lifestyle ranks among the very best of his career.
Derek Adams, Time Out
[Caine] gives one of his best performances, whether dissembling a new-found inner steel under questioning or breaking down in the privacy of a toilet.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Director Phillip Noyce landed a beautiful one-two punch with this and Rabbit-Proof Fence, two political films with politics in the background and delicate human storytelling in the foreground.
Tim Merrill, Film Threat
As a piece of acting, The Quiet American represents a fitting capper to Caine's illustrious career; his portrait of a jaded sybarite whom history nudges into conscientious action is among the year's most moving.
Stuart Klawans, Nation
By cutting Greene's novel down to its most basic action, the screenplay makes the situations look bare and silly--including the Vietnam War itself, which seems to have been merely the opium dream of an old, horny Brit.
Louis-Jérôme Cloutier, Panorama
La confrontation, mais aussi l'amitié entre ces deux comédiens au sommet de leur forme, font de The Quiet American un film solide.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
Noyce has coaxed out what may well be a career-best performance by Michael Caine.
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
Provides enough action to keep the restive in their seats, but the real excitement here is Greene's finely-drawn characters and the two performances that keep them alive.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
The Quiet American takes the viewer inside opium dens and dance halls. It peeks behind the curtains of political intrigues and exposes their violent consequences.

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

Graham Greene novels tend to make the transition to cinema quite well, and this political drama set in the years preceding America's involvement in Vietnam is no exception. It's an interesting period piece as the subject matter is rarely seen on the screen and Michael Caine… More
Graham Greene novels tend to make the transition to cinema quite well, and this political drama set in the years preceding America's involvement in Vietnam is no exception. It's an interesting period piece as the subject matter is rarely seen on the screen and Michael Caine lends his usual presence and skill to the part of a British foreign correspondent who loses his objective detachment after becoming involved with the affairs of an American aid worker. It's a well made and well intentioned film but I found it a little schizophrenic, unable to decide whether it's core was romantic drama or political intrigue. I was far more interested in the political side of things but neither aspect seemed fully developed and only Caine's performance really engaged as Brendan Fraser seemed out of his element. A decent attempt though but it in no way equals the visceral impact or emotion of the likes of The Killing Fields or Salvador.
Al S

Michael Caine gives a very fine and remarkable performance. Brendon Fraser gives an exceptable and great performance. A unique and masterful thriller.
Lenny M

Good film in my opinion, Brendan Fraser does a good job. Michael Caine is excellent, time period in the years that set the scene for the Vietnam War, not focused on a lot in movies.
danny d

great movie, micheal cane was great and brenden fraiser suprised me
jay n

fine film
Jens S

A love triangle during the beginning stages of the Vietnam conflict. Not too exciting, but with good acting and entertaining. And the historic aspects are rather interesting and well summarized. Not bad.
Alec B

A decent effort on the part of Philip Noyce to film the Graham Greene novel. The fantastic performances of Michael Caine and Brendan Frasier are the best reason to see this film. The Love triangle is moderately engaging, but its the story of the early rumblings of American involvement… More
A decent effort on the part of Philip Noyce to film the Graham Greene novel. The fantastic performances of Michael Caine and Brendan Frasier are the best reason to see this film. The Love triangle is moderately engaging, but its the story of the early rumblings of American involvement in Vietnam that is the most interesting. Noyce and the screenwriters don't delve into that story as deeply as they could have, but overall its a pretty good film.
Daisy M

The Quiet American told the story of a love triangle which took place in the end of the French War in Indochina in 1952.A British reporter Micheal Caine, an American aid worker Brendan Fraser and a Vietnamese beauty Do Thi Hai Yen were the lead characters of this movie. It opened… More
The Quiet American told the story of a love triangle which took place in the end of the French War in Indochina in 1952.A British reporter Micheal Caine, an American aid worker Brendan Fraser and a Vietnamese beauty Do Thi Hai Yen were the lead characters of this movie. It opened after the death of Fraser's character and so it showed the rest of the movie explaining what led up to his death. Micheal Caine carried the movie, and narrated it also and Brendan Fraser was convincing in his role.It was a slow paced movie but excellent direction coming from Phillip Noyce and brilliant acting from Michael Caine.
hawk l

Powerful political thriller full of danger and intrigue but intelligently scripted to underscore the personal and political intersect. Michael Caine's nuanced, affecting performance pairs nicely with Brendan Fraser's good, measured performance suggesting more to his… More
Powerful political thriller full of danger and intrigue but intelligently scripted to underscore the personal and political intersect. Michael Caine's nuanced, affecting performance pairs nicely with Brendan Fraser's good, measured performance suggesting more to his character than meets the eye.
Leo L

Fascinating!
Haley A

Caine and Fraser are amazing!