Father Geek here... This is exactly the kind of film that should be remade, if you want to do remakes instead of new, totally original motion pictures. Marlon Brando's QUIET AMERICAN was a very good movie, but not a GREAT one. So the new film makers are not starting out by shooting themselves in the foot. They got a great novel and a good 60's flick to build on, the director and cinematographer are perfect for this movie and the cast should kick ass. It will be interesting to see Brendan tackle the Brando character. Its a good choice for him. He needs to establish himself in more gritty dramatic parts like this.
Ye is here!
There is a new film waiting for Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser and Jean Réno, called The Quiet American. Based on the same name novel by Graham Green (written in 1955) and with the background set in the pre-Vietnam war era (the war involving the French not the Americans, which is in the late 50's), it tells the story of a British columnist (Michael Caine), a French army officer (Jean Réno) and an American idealist (Brendan Fraser). It will be directed by Phillip Noyce (Patriot Game, Clear and Present Danger, The Bone Collector, etc.).
The cinematographer will be the one-time classmate of Phillip Noyce, Australian Christopher Doyle. Christopher Doyle made his name in Hong Kong and is famous for making movies with Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai. His latest film "In the Mood For Love", also directed by Wong Kar-Wai, has been the no. 3 of 10 best films by Time magazine (only next to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Chicken Run"), and has earned three best cinematography awards for him (Cannes Film Festival, Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Festival and Asian-Pacific Film Festival). After meeting with Jean Réno in Paris, Christopher Doyle has traveled to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to look for locations.
I suspect it is not an American backed movie, otherwise it will be the first US film shot in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War. Anyway, after "The Quiet American", Doyle will try to direct for the second time to make "Mother of Mt. Fuji".
Ye Meng
