The Quiet American
Dir: Phillip Noyce
2002
****
The second adaptation of Graham Green's novel sees a more faithful approach in Phillip Noyce's 2002 version, thanks to the beautiful direction and a brilliant performance by Michael Caine. Phillip Noyce gets the mood of the book perfectly and the visuals are what I pictured when reading and then some. Certain scenes were almost identical to those in the book in terms of anticipation and tension. The only problem with Michael Caine's brilliant performance is that poor old Brendan Fraser couldn't come close to competing against it, something that should have been pivotal in keeping with the book. Certain conversations are missing from the book also which I found a shame but then it is a tricky story to adapt. All that said though, if every adaptation was this good more publishers would invest in film studios.

Salt
Dir: Phillip Noyce
2010
**
Salt is an odd mix of predictable and unpredictable, formulaic but also original. Completely convoluted though. I'm not sure it was cast right to be honest and although the visual effects and overall look of the film was impressive, that wig spoiled it for me as I found it hard to concentrate on anything else. If you're going to do a comic-book style movie you have got to take it just that little less seriously.

Rabbit-Proof Fence
Dir: Phillip Noyce
2002
***
Rabbit-Proof Fence raises awareness of a very important and shameful chapter in Australian history but I'm not sure it does as good a job as it could have done. It feels more like a 'feel good' film rather than what it is, a horrific reality. It is directed beautifully and acted well, particularly by the three young children playing Molly, Daisy and Gracie. It was lovely to see the real Molly and Daisy at the end of the film and to hear them talk briefly of their ordeal but I don't feel it was enough. Yes, the fact that they managed to find their way home after escaping the camp is an awe-inspiring story but the really horrific parts like the fact that Gracie didn't survive, the camps went on for many decades and that most of the kids were sent away seemed to be skipped over. In order for us to truly appreciate the amazing escape, we need to know what they were escaping from in all its uncomfortable detail.