"The Quiet American" - what a gem !
02-13-03 | 08:52 PM
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"The Quiet American" - what a gem !
I'm amazed how nobody writes about this movie - it was definitely one of the best movies to come out last year (after such a long delay, too!)
Intelligent, thought-provoking, beautifully acted (Caine is definitely a great actor!), with a compelling, bitter story...
Why isn't this movie discussed? I guess people are too interested in "The Hours", "Adaptation" and the like... which are comfortable to pretend they have a higher meaning, while in fact they're simple exercises in self-importance. Is it the political subtext ?
Am I the only one who sees this as an undeservedly "overlooked" movie?
Intelligent, thought-provoking, beautifully acted (Caine is definitely a great actor!), with a compelling, bitter story...
Why isn't this movie discussed? I guess people are too interested in "The Hours", "Adaptation" and the like... which are comfortable to pretend they have a higher meaning, while in fact they're simple exercises in self-importance. Is it the political subtext ?
Am I the only one who sees this as an undeservedly "overlooked" movie?
02-13-03 | 09:36 PM
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From: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Well, I'm not exactly sure how many people have had the opportunity to see it yet, that could be why. I live in Minneapolis and we usually get films, even the smaller ones, pretty early, and this just opened last week here. I want to see it and plan to get to it sometime this week, but I'm not sure everybody else is as lucky to have it actually playing in their area.
02-14-03 | 12:48 AM
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From: Philadelphia, PA
Originally posted by badger1997
I live in Minneapolis and we usually get films, even the smaller ones, pretty early, and this just opened last week here.
I live in Minneapolis and we usually get films, even the smaller ones, pretty early, and this just opened last week here.
02-14-03 | 08:51 AM
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And it just opened in Chicago last Friday.
I enjoyed the movie quite a lot. Michael Caine owns this film, but Fraser does a great job as well. Although I don't think Miramax should have been as timid about releasing this as they were. And I think they cut it as well for the American release. So I'm interested in director Noyce's version. And after seeing his fine Rabbit-Proof Fence, there were a couple moments in The Quiet American that could have resulted from the "Miramax touch." Who knows?
Still, it's a very good film.
I enjoyed the movie quite a lot. Michael Caine owns this film, but Fraser does a great job as well. Although I don't think Miramax should have been as timid about releasing this as they were. And I think they cut it as well for the American release. So I'm interested in director Noyce's version. And after seeing his fine Rabbit-Proof Fence, there were a couple moments in The Quiet American that could have resulted from the "Miramax touch." Who knows?
Still, it's a very good film.
02-14-03 | 10:17 AM
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From: Little Rock, AR
I'm interested in seeing this after having read the book for a class last semester. I'm a little nervous about Michael Caine's performance, even though eveyrone says he did a good job, simply because he gave an interview about the film in which he spouted a few lines about the movie/novel that were pseudo-intellectual at best.
02-14-03 | 11:10 AM
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If you enjoyed "The Killing Fields", "The Year of Living Dangerously", "Biter Moon" or "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" you'll enjoy this one as well...
I believe both Caine and Fraser did excellent jobs in the movie. Some reviewers said Fraser is wooden, but they missed the point - that's precisely how the character is supposed to be.
I believe both Caine and Fraser did excellent jobs in the movie. Some reviewers said Fraser is wooden, but they missed the point - that's precisely how the character is supposed to be.
02-24-03 | 08:16 AM
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From: Maryland
I loved the movie, not sure if i liked brendan frasier in it too much.. or probably it was just the character he was playing.. really got on my nerves....
anyways, great movie, micheal caine was amazing.
anyways, great movie, micheal caine was amazing.
02-24-03 | 01:42 PM
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I saw this yesterday. I had to make a bit of an effort (drive about an hour), but it was well worth it. I felt like unlike most movies, it didn't spell everything out for you, so you had something to think about afterwards.
Last edited by Ginwen; 02-24-03 at 01:50 PM.
02-25-03 | 08:39 PM
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From: Saint Clair Shores, MI, USA
I think that part of the reason that so few people are talking about it is because, despite very strong reviews and an Oscar nod, Miramax has pretty much buried this movie. Because of current events, they seem a bit afraid about the reaction that the film and its subject matter will get from moviegoers. The release date went through several changes, and now that it's out, it has been given a very limited release.
I finally read the book a few months ago (been on a Graham Greene kick), and I thought that it was brilliant. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance too see the film and I doubt that I will until it is released on DVD. The closest place it's playing is about a hour away from me, and I haven't been able to justify taking that long a trip just to see a movie.
For those who have also read the book, how close to the movie stick to it?
jim
I finally read the book a few months ago (been on a Graham Greene kick), and I thought that it was brilliant. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance too see the film and I doubt that I will until it is released on DVD. The closest place it's playing is about a hour away from me, and I haven't been able to justify taking that long a trip just to see a movie.
For those who have also read the book, how close to the movie stick to it?
jim
02-28-03 | 08:58 PM
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From: Northern Califfornia
I have avoided movies about Vietnam except The Killing Fields, Hearts and Minds, and The Quiet American. I was too young to serve, but old enough to remember growing up with this war and the impact it has had on this country. I know people who did not make it home and others who came home, but were never the same.
I took this afternoon off and went to see The Quiet American with a friend. Michael Caine gave an Oscar worthy performance and Brendan Frazier was excellent. As the final scene faded and the credits began to roll, I am not ashamed to say I cried on my friend’s shoulder.
I highly recommend The Quiet American.
Ian
I took this afternoon off and went to see The Quiet American with a friend. Michael Caine gave an Oscar worthy performance and Brendan Frazier was excellent. As the final scene faded and the credits began to roll, I am not ashamed to say I cried on my friend’s shoulder.
I highly recommend The Quiet American.
Ian
Last edited by dvdanon; 02-28-03 at 10:09 PM.
02-28-03 | 10:39 PM
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excellent beautiful movie highly recommened.
and beautifully written, i dont know if the credit should go to screen writers or Greene, but regardless, nad exceptionally delivered by Caine.
great performance by caine, very restrained and effective
and also an impressive performance by brendan fraser.
I just had one qualm, with one particular scene where
and beautifully written, i dont know if the credit should go to screen writers or Greene, but regardless, nad exceptionally delivered by Caine.
great performance by caine, very restrained and effective
and also an impressive performance by brendan fraser.
I just had one qualm, with one particular scene where
Spoiler:
03-03-03 | 01:26 PM
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Saw it yesterday. A good film with a great performance by Michael Caine. I honestly feel this movie would have been somewhat of a hit had they given it a wide release back in the fall. Why was this delayed so much? Because
Heaven forbid!
Spoiler:
03-03-03 | 04:12 PM
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Sad situation...
Well, in response to the issue concerning the limited theatrical release, I have to confess that I saw "The Quiet American" as a preview from kazaa.
I am not advocating file-sharing, but this is yet again one of the situations in which there's just too much debate (just like the Star Wars Original Trilogy DVDs) to be able to draw lines. If I like a movie, I will buy it - it's more important for me to enjoy it at home on DVD than in theatres, especially considering that the quality of the audience (and the prints) has taken a dive in recent years. And then, if you can't even see it in theatres, where else can you go?
Miramax has made such mistakes in the past as well - "The Quiet American" (which I will buy the second it appears on DVD) being just the latest victim. I remember I saw "Takedown" from Kazaa as well - where else could I have seen it? Should I have taken a trip to Europe, where it was released on DVD already?
It's a sad situation, when being in love with movies forces you to become entangled in arrangements like this...
I am not advocating file-sharing, but this is yet again one of the situations in which there's just too much debate (just like the Star Wars Original Trilogy DVDs) to be able to draw lines. If I like a movie, I will buy it - it's more important for me to enjoy it at home on DVD than in theatres, especially considering that the quality of the audience (and the prints) has taken a dive in recent years. And then, if you can't even see it in theatres, where else can you go?
Miramax has made such mistakes in the past as well - "The Quiet American" (which I will buy the second it appears on DVD) being just the latest victim. I remember I saw "Takedown" from Kazaa as well - where else could I have seen it? Should I have taken a trip to Europe, where it was released on DVD already?
It's a sad situation, when being in love with movies forces you to become entangled in arrangements like this...
03-03-03 | 08:28 PM
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Originally posted by Gamblor187
For those who have also read the book, how close to the movie stick to it?
jim
For those who have also read the book, how close to the movie stick to it?
jim
Spoiler:
I feel the book is brilliant, one of the best ever written. The film is different in many respects, but as I mentioned before is largely close in spirit to the novel. The locations are used exquisitely and Caine is superb. However, though competent, Fraser seemed to me to be the weak link in the film. That having been said, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and strongly recommend it. It stands on its own as a very very good film.
