Marlon Brando, wow do I love his work. Well, a lot of it anyway. The Ugly American is a recent find at the video store which has instantly become yet another Brando favorite.

Brando plays Ambassador Harrison Carter MacWhite, a know it all American ambassador to Sarkan, a southeastern Asian country. The country is ripe for a civil war. On one side is Macwhite's friend Deong, who is leading a peaceful revolution up until now, while on the other end is Prime Minister Kwen Sai whose government appears to ignore their people's requests and demands for reform.

Macwhite arrogantly believes straight from the beginning that he can move into Sarkan, meet up with his old buddy Deong and create peace amongst the land. Unfortunately for him, his missteps and misunderstandings towards the fragile political climate allow other communist countries (this film was made during the U.S. - communist cold war) to sneak in and possibly usurp the slowly developing democratic society.

The tough standing American ambassador plays right into the red menace's hands by refusing to accept the political ramblings of his friend. In essence dissolving that friendship immediately after he judges Deong to be a communist and therefore must be the enemy. He never speaks to him again, until civil war erupts and virtually all hope is lost for American democratic interests as well as Sarkan's.

It has been amazingly interesting to watch this film today. I am quite thrilled that I luckily never decided to watch the Ugly American until this year. With the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, and Bush Jr.'s constant disregard for the need of sensitivity toward international diplomacy, the Ugly American hit very close to home for this Canadian boy.

While I do not wish to upset or unsettle my American friends, many countries feel that the U.S.'s current president cares little for international politics, and places American interests too high by pushing aside any who get in his way. While that may be all fine and dandy for American citizens, it does tend to give off the impression of an arrogant bully to other countries. When one country defies United Nations and other large groups that have existed for years (whether or not they are useful, or useless... I don't wish to take sides here, I just want to use the comparison of todays current events to this film) some countries are going to balk, period. In the film, the country of Sarkan appreciates the American intervention up until it reaches a certain point, complete and utter control. Once the American ambassador outright states that 'a road has got to be put here to ensure communism is defeated', all those whom oppose the decision revolt. The revolution is a nasty one and one that opens up Macwhites eyes, but only when he is held by the hand and shown the errors of his ways. Even then, Macwhite is dragged kicking and screaming claiming 'DEMOCRACY! and 'DOWN WITH COMMUNISM!'.

A few years earlier it would have been a funny history lesson, kind of like watching those old trailers in school that instructed young students how to hide under their desks in the event of a bombing raid. Now though, the Ugly American may be even more meaningful than it was originally intended those many years ago.

Marlon Brando is as intense as ever as Macwhite. It never ceases to amaze me at how easily he can drag me into a film. His performance is commanding and doesn't allow for one watching it not to become fully enthralled in the poor plight of ambassador Macwhite.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older