The Quiet American

This is a beautifully executed film that blends many universal themes together. It is love and desperation that drive Michael Caine's character. It's a truly wonderful performance - finely controlled and filled with subtle nuances that give it so much depth. I hope the Oscar nod for Best Actor goes to Caine. Brendan Fraser is also excellent in his role as the seemingly wide-eyed American. His best moment is in the pivotal scene with Caine, when he reveals that all is not as it seems. The only weak character for me is the love interest, Phuong. Many times, I was left wondering what she is really thinking. This is no fault of the actress. I assume the combination of the script and director made that deliberate choice, but it's not one I agree with. But overall, it's a film worth seeing - an engaging story, set in a tumultuous period of history.