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Michael Fri Aug 8 08:41:50 2003
The Quiet American - 9.0

This was a good flick with a well-written story. Word was that Michael Caine is expected to have an Oscar nomination for it -- which knowledge somewhat ruined the film for me, since I was asking myself the whole time when the Oscar-level material was going to come up. Sorry. I dote on Michael Caine, ever since his line in I can't remember which movie: when asked, "He was your superior, wasn't he?," he replied, in the 100% perfect tone, "No, he was my boss." Classic.

Anyway, Michael Caine does his usual good work here, but nothing screamed at me, "This guy is taking himself to new levels and needs an Oscar pronto." But -- wow -- of Brendan Fraser, this was absolutely true. I like Brendan Fraser a lot, too, since he's got that friendly face that makes him perfect for bubble-gum movies like The Mummy and Dudley Doolittle. In this movie, though, he was the very model of a modern American "advisor," nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Especially in his final scene, he was perfect.

Otherwise, the movie was a solid piece of cinematic work, with a subject material that sent continual shivers down my spine given the geopolitical events of the last year (which also marred my movie-going experience: I go to the movies to escape mundane reality, not to be reminded of the Idiots In Charge). Definitely worth a look, but in my own scheme of classification, this is not a movie which requires the big screen to be appreciated, as it's not an effects vehicle.

It was a small enough cinema draw, by the way, that it was not synchronized, but rather subtitled, which was fortunate for me. Hungary has been synchronizing fewer movies lately, thank God.

mouse Fri Aug 8 17:26:07 2003
Re: The Quiet American - 9.0
*sigh* - this is another one on my list of 'should see' - but it sounds like this one i can wait for hbo to show.
i _did_ finally get out and see one i've been wanting to - 'winged migration'. it's a nature film - so no plot, but some really beautiful photography - they did a lot of filming from ultralights, so they were flying right alongside the birds - so you definitely get a "bird's-eye" view.
there were some disturbing scenes (so alas, i can't recommend it as totally escapist)- but also some funny ones (there was one of canada geese walking around the arizona desert - you could almost hear them saying to each other 'what the _heck_ are we doing here?'

Chris Fri Aug 8 21:20:08 2003
Re: The Quiet American - 9.0
> there were some disturbing scenes (so alas, i can't recommend it as
> totally escapist)- but also some funny ones (there was one of canada geese
> walking around the arizona desert - you could almost hear them saying to
> each other 'what the _heck_ are we doing here?'
"I knew we should have taken that left turn at Alberta."

Eric Schissel Thu Aug 28 22:00:58 2003
Re: The Quiet American - 9.0
> This was a good flick with a well-written story. Word was that Michael
> Caine is expected to have an Oscar nomination for it -- which knowledge
> somewhat ruined the film for me, since I was asking myself the whole time
> when the Oscar-level material was going to come up. Sorry. I dote on
> Michael Caine, ever since his line in I can't remember which movie: when
> asked, "He was your superior, wasn't he?," he replied, in the
> 100% perfect tone, "No, he was my boss." Classic.
It was released last year in a very few (two? one on each U.S. coast. I caught it then, then again months later) theaters, I believe- and Mr. (Sir? Ah, ok- Sir. Nov. 16 2000 CNN posting.) Caine was nominated for Best Actor this year on the basis of this film, though he did not win. There was a note in the New Yorker before nominations, if I remember correctly, suggesting that the studio was treating the film very gingerly indeed out of concerns that it might be perceived as anti-American, releasing it in the minimum number of theaters necessary to qualify for nomination; it did achieve wider release afterward, yes.

mouse Fri Aug 29 17:36:18 2003
Re: The Quiet American - 9.0
hey, eric! long time, no ...post?
i remember seeing something about fears of anti-americanism too - one resists feeling it should have been released widely on just that account (sorry - just been reading some of the iraqi blogs - i feel like i should e-mail these people daily just to say "i'm sorry")
it's not uncommon for studios to do a small release to make sure something gets in under the wire for oscar nominations - but it was probably a shame to just try to sneak this one in. (and no, i _still_ haven't seen it - i may have to break down and spring for a dvd player)