Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2002: Brendan Fraser in The Quiet American

Brendan Fraser did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Alden Pyle in The Quiet American.

I must admit I always liked Brendan Fraser. One of the very the era specific leading men of the late 90's and early 2000's. Now he's an actor who wasn't always in the best roles, in fact many of his roles are quite silly, but I have to admit I liked him even in those often silly roles. Fraser, despite being disparaged by some perhaps for this very reason, I felt really had an old school earnest quality in his presence as an actor. This making him seems perhaps odd, though in fact ideal, casting for one of his strictly dramatic roles in this film. Although overall the film focuses on the British journalist Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine), within Vietnam during the war though while France tried to maintain the power structure there, the real focal point in a way is Brendan Fraser's Pyle who is the titular character, though not the leading character. We open with the film actually finding out Pyle has been murdered, and from there we are then following basically Fowler's relationship with Pyle as we uncover who this "quiet American" is. This though in the initial meeting we see the intelligence of this casting as Fraser could be any ole' Fraser role as Caine's Fowler meets a somewhat silly looking American sticking out like a sore thumb within Vietnam.

Fraser's typical eagerness is found here and is ideal in painting our perspective of Pyle, just as it does Fowler's, as this generally affable if unassuming man. Fraser brings a very low key charm and seeming naivety towards the role early on. This with a believable earnest quality as he speaks to Fowler with sincerity and is surprised to hear a grenade explosion soon afterwards. Fraser creates an easy likability to Pyle even if he seems ill-fitting to his placement within Vietnam, though one seemingly shouldn't be concerned as he claims to be there for medical purposes only. This to the point that early on as Pyle to Fowler's Vietnamese mistress Phuong, one can believe Fowler's initial near lack of reaction as Fraser presents a distinct purity of interest through that specific charm of his. Fraser makes Pyle more than anything seemingly just a perhaps slightly out of his element yet just generally charming fellow who one shouldn't worry too much about. His chemistry with Caine in this is particularly important as he always does greet him with an honest smile as just a genuine friend. There are important moments though that Fraser effectively uses early on to really give us the truth of Pyle earlier though painting in a way that you don't really give him a second thought. This as he speaks to the philosophy of a third force in Vietnam to essentially take power. Fraser delivers these words though of just a school boys sort of interest in a fascinating concept, and doesn't raise any alarms in Fowler, nor the viewer.

The nature of the man reveals itself more after Fowler visits a Vietnamese General, who may be making a 3rd force, and on his way home Pyle takes a ride with him. The two avoid a seeming assassination attempt and within that sequence Fraser is terrific as there is a snap switch in his performance that creates an instant different agency within the man, but also an intensity. The intensity he brings the moment that is a bit startling initially as the affable Fraser naturally performs this switch to seemingly allude to another nature to Pyle. Again though we see Pyle essential reset himself and the constant state of the man Fraser presents is as the "quiet American". This just with that low key charm, even as the two men eventually battle over Phuong, Fraser's presents Pyle's manner even in this as courteous and gentlemanly with that overt sincerity once again. What Fraser does here is honestly realize proper operator and essentially a spy in Alden Pyle. This as one watching Fraser in his typical manner doesn't take second note other than an overly eager yet unassuming man. What is so remarkable is the revelation that Fraser realizes. Again as related to that philosophy of the third force that Pyle takes any action to support, even if it means support civilian bombings to create a public fervor. Fraser's work is terrific as he successfully rips off the cloak with such an ease. This in revealing a much darker figure in manner and again that intensity seen in the earlier scene coming fully out as a man with determined and violent purpose. Fraser's performance utilizes his own presence to create the false image of Pyle, yet makes a notable impact by subverting that presence by effectively revealing the darker side of the character. Although most coming into the film initially might've second guessed casting Fraser in this role, I'd say this is just about perfect casting as he truly embodies both the falsehood and the truth of his character.