During the early 1950's Vietnam was a very troubled country. The French who had been colonists in the country were at war with the new regimen of communism that wanted take over the leadership of the country and being torn between the middle of the two were the innocent. Grenades going off in streets and children and woman dieing just so one political power could be in charge over the country. The American had not got involved yet but they would eventually and for 15 years tear the country apart as well cause strife at home. But to stem the flood of communist the American government had sent over relief and medical aid to try and help out the impoverished country and in the middle of all that is Alden Pyle who has been sent to help the Vietnamese with medical treatment for their eyes. He is the quiet American as Thomas Fowler who is an English journalist for the London Times puts it. Fowler has been in the country quite some time reporting on the political unease and strife that is slowly tearing Vietnam apart. He has taken an Vietnamese lover too in fact and has no intention of ever returning to London but that is all about to change as the London Times have called him home as he is not publishing anywhere near enough articles for them. So he has stricken a friendship with Pyle and hopes to travel north to see if any of the rumors of massacres are true but his relationships are about to become as complicated as that of the political intrigue of the country he has grown to love. He can’t marry Phuong his lover, he can’t take her back with him to London and Pyle has fallen in love with her and wants to take her home and protect her. All this erupts to a boil as a third political party emerges in the form of a Vietnamese General who was once part of the French Army and has the support of the locals. So now Fowler must find away to straighten out his life while at the same time maybe cover the biggest story of his career.

The Quiet American is a very good and subtle name for the movie as while there is a lot going on under the surface of the movie it is very quiet and subtle about revealing it to you. You find yourself drawn into a movie full of political intrigue and very subtle battles between not only political parties but between two people who under different circumstances might have become the best of friends. Michael Caine does a very wonderful job at playing the prissy British reporter who has forgotten to feel and care for the situations around him and instead just reports on what he sees. And Brendan Fraser plays the part of the impassioned, optimistic American to the tee as his passion and Caine’s detachment makes for a wonderful tapestry of emotions and drama. The movie can be slow at times and does have quiet the few confusing twists and turns that confound you at times but it is also one of those movies that is driven by its actors, stories, and drama instead of relying on effects and flash. These types of movies can be refreshing as they make you think, feel and react in many different ways. Over all the movie is a great drama that was only sometimes forget to tell its story as it was distracted a few times between the love of the two men to the women rather than the emotions between themselves. So if your in the mood for a movie full of political, historical drama that tells a very good story this is the movie for you.
3.5 stars out of 5