Netflix update:

The Quiet American (2002): 3 stars.

I know this one was critically acclaimed, but it was like Seabiscuit in that it was well made and well acted, but I didn't really get into it. The characters seemed a bit thin to me. I think this is because the film is based on a book, and it's hard to get that same level of dimension in a 2 hour movie. The other problem is that its true strength, the writing, cannot be satisfactorily conveyed in the film medium. It's kinda like White Oleander that way.