Phillip Noyce's Rabbit-Proof Fence is based on the shocking true-life story of how, starting in the '30s, young Australian children who were half Aboriginal and half white were taken from their families and sent to camps to be trained as domestic staff. But as compelling as the subject matter is, the film comes off as weak and even dull - due mostly to some poor acting and questionable directorial choices. Everlyn Sampi stars as Molly Craig, one of three sisters dragged from her home kicking and screaming and sent to a crowded training camp. Molly refuses to accept her fate, and plots an escape for her two sisters and herself. Meanwhile, the man heading the program, Mr. Neville (Kenneth Branagh), realizes that public knowledge of the Craig escape would spell disaster for his enterprise, and assigns two men to track down the girls - one of whom is an Aboriginal himself. Rabbit-Proof Fence contains what is undeniably a fascinating story, but the film never manages to express that extreme feeling of risk that the real-life girls must have felt. The whole thing just comes off as curiously flat, despite some stunning locales and a fine performance from Branagh. The heart of the problem lies with the casting of the three girls and their family members, as the various actresses exude a palpable vibe of amateurishness that effectively dulls the impact of the subject matter. Branagh, however, does a fine job of ensuring that Mr. Neville never turns into a one-dimensional villain, which is no small feat given that this is a character who, at one point, notes that "in spite of himself, the native must be helped." It's a shame, really, that Rabbit-Proof Fence ultimately comes off as such a mediocre piece of work, as this is an important topic that deserves a better presentation.

Based on the novel by Graham Greene, The Quiet American - which follows a British reporter (Michael Caine) as he attempts to navigate the murky waters of 1952-era Vietnam - is surprisingly involving, and although it deals heavily with the politics of the time, the film is clear enough that even a viewer with the most minimal knowledge of the conflict will be able to follow along. Director Phillip Noyce does an astounding job of bringing us this dank and dirty world; Fowler's apartment alone is a masterpiece of set design. Noyce makes great use of the widescreen format, taking his camera in and around the smallest sections of Vietnam. The Quiet American is a marked improvement over Rabbit-Proof Fence, Noyce's other 2002 film, which was over-the-top in virtually every aspect. Here, he creates a world that is absolutely intriguing, from the hotel cafe where Fowler drinks his coffee every morning to the headquarters of an up-and-coming military leader. But the look of the film would mean nothing without good performances to accompany it, and The Quiet American certainly has that going for it. Caine, as the world-weary reporter, gives one of his best performances in years. He is completely convincing as this guy who's been there, done that - and who just wants to enjoy the rest of his life with a local girl (Do Hai Yen's Phoung). And Brendan Fraser, finally returning to a dramatic role after years of essentially playing living cartoons, proves that he's got what it takes to act opposite a master like Caine. As for Yen, she's a surprisingly adept actress - though her heavy accent occasionally makes it a little tough to understand what she's saying. While The Quiet American does take a little while to really get going, it's nevertheless quite an enjoyable piece of work (and worth checking out if only for Caine's amazing performance).