The Quiet American

A

The Quiet American is probably my favorite book ever. I read it during the first few months I was in Thailand with the Peace Corps and it just seemed to perfectly express the dichotomy of those who leave behind their old culture to embrace a new one and those who want to push their own culture on others.

The movie catches the flavor of the book perfectly. Michael Caine is perfect as the cynical old British journalist who gladly leaves England behind (he says "I love London. I love it where it is."). And Brendan Fraser plays the idealistic Harvard grad who wants to bring democracy to Vietnam as the cure-all for their ills (hmmm . . . ). It's a study of two flawed characters and two outlooks on life. In the end both of these people act on their convictions but for different reasons.

I was destined to like this movie as long as it was executed well so it's not much of a surprise that I would give it an A.

Back to Index