City of Ghosts

Rating:
Summary: Exotic, Atmospheric, and Sometimes Nihilistic Thriller
Review: Jimmy (Matt Dillon) sold disaster insurance in New York until a federal investigation made it clear that his company was engaging in fraud, selling insurance with no intention of paying on claims. Jimmy knows where his boss, Marvin, can be found, and he travels to Cambodia to track him down. Marvin (James Caan) is laying low and working on his next business venture, trying to entice a powerful and corrupt Cambodian general to invest in a resort complex. A business associate of Marvin's, Kaspar (Stellan Skarsgard), may or may not be trying to help Jimmy, but is becoming increasingly anxious about getting his share of the loot from the insurance scam. The situation goes from uneasy to harrowing when the constant scheming and backstabbing of these Western con men becomes intertwined with the lawlessness of a post-war Cambodia. And it begins to look as if no one will come to a good end.

If my description of this film's plot seems incoherent, it is because the story's complexity and sinuousness make it difficult to recount. "City of Ghosts" was co-written and directed by actor Matt Dillon, who also plays the lead role in the film. Dillon's inexperience at both writing and directing show in this film. He has chosen an especially complex piece of material to direct. Plus, he has co-written it with Barry Gifford, which makes it difficult to see flaws in the writing and correct them in his on-screen interpretation. The film is littered with cliched characters: Down-and-out Westerners hanging on in Southeast Asia, one a cripple, one a burly bartender (Gerard Depardieu), and a couple of junkies. A humble and loyal local man, Sok (Kem Sereyvuth), who aids our protagonist and provides the moral to our story. Jimmy, a man who thinks that he cannot be redeemed but seems to really want to be anyway. And there is a love interest (Natascha McElhone), whose sole purpose in the story is Jimmy's said redemption. "City of Ghosts" is heavy on atmosphere and convolution, but light on substance...usually. It has flashes of depth. The film's emotional climax is more of an anti-climax. That may actually be realistic, but it doesn't fare well on film.

I'm giving this movie 4 stars because, in spite of its faults, it is very successful at certain things: The supporting performances of Stellan Skarsgard and James Caan are excellent. We see very little of "Marvin", but Caan embodies this man who has been driven by self-aggrandizement his whole life and who is perpetually one scam ahead of his many enemies. Caan only needs one scene to give us an understanding of Marvin's entire self-image. And I have to conclude that Stellan Skarsgard can play any character to perfection. "Kaspar" has a confused and confusing criminal disposition. He is desperate and unstable. He doesn't seem realistic. But Skarsgard lends him a palpable presence anyway. Jim Denault's cinematography is beautiful. Cambodia is picturesque, but I was most impressed and perplexed by Denault's masterful methods of dealing with the apparent lack of good light in many of the film's scenes. The most striking feature of "City of Ghosts" is its ability to generate the near-constant uneasiness that one feels when submersed in a culture very different from one's own: The feeling of slight panic that comes with realizing that the basic assumptions and value systems that underlie your understanding of the universe at home may not apply here. This is, of course, intensified when things start to go wrong. I've never seen a film that conveyed this emotion so authentically and consistently.

So I'm recommending "City of Ghosts" for its excellent supporting performances, its cinematography, and its "uneasiness". Producing discomfort turns out to be a good thing in this case. Narratively, the film is flawed. If you're looking for a good story, this probably isn't it. But if you're willing to pick out the gems from among the clichés and misjudgments, I think "City of Ghosts" is worth the time. If Matt Dillon can retain the strengths of this film and learn from its faults, he has a future as a director.

The DVD: Bonus features include a theatrical trailer and audio commentary by Matt Dillon and Barry Gifford, who is the film's co-writer. Subtitles are available in English, Spanish, and French. The audio commentary isn't bad, but the commentary I would have been most interested in in this case is the cinematographer's. It's unfortunate that he doesn't appear at all in the extras.

Rating:
Summary: 2.5 STARS FOR EFFORT
Review: Matt Dillon co-wrote the script and co-stars in his directing debut, about Jimmy Cremins (Dillon), a con artist under investigation by the feds who flees to Cambodia to collect his share of an insurance scam. He eventually meets up with Marvin (James Caan), his mentor and partner in crime, also uncovering a mysterious and dangerous world that could prove to be his undoing. Unfortunately, the only intriguing aspect of CITY OF GHOSTS involves the often rare glimpses into the remote and exotic culture and landscape of Cambodia. Aside from the cinematography this film has little to offer the audience, besides some laughs from Gérard Depardieu's character. The dialogue and acting are often uneven and scripted and the relationships between the characters are not convincing.

Bottom line: I was disappointed in CITY OF GHOSTS...

Rating:
Summary: Had the Right Potential, Just Missing that Extra Something
Review: Matt Dillon directed this film, and was also one of the writers. He stars in it too.

The film starts in an aftermath of a hurricane on the East Coast, with interviews of people who have lost their homes. We soon become aware, however, that the insurance company on which they depended, and which is based outside the United States, has no money to pay the claims. The investigation finds Matt Dillon running the insurance company's New York office and it seems that he is completely innocent. Suddenly, though, he takes off for Bangkok and then on into Cambodia in search of the man who was behind the scam. His relationship with the top guy, played by James Cain, is complicated though and, as the story moves along, the plot thickens.

Gerard Depardieu is cast as one of those expatriates who runs a sleazy hotel in Cambodia. His performance shines and this is clearly the best and most convincing role in the film. Everyone else, including a local Cambodian who helps our hero and a blonde babe archeologist who Dillon romances, are just there to help the setting of the fast moving, but impossible plot.

In my opinion, though, the star of the film is Cambodia itself. The cinematography was great and I came away with a sense of place that is rare in a plot-driven film. The story did hold my attention, as there were some interesting twists and turns of the story and was generally well done. As it wasn't targeted to an audience looking for an artsy or meaningful film, it definitely fulfilled its limited purposed. Every film does not have to be an Academy Award winner. Some are just for pure entertainment. And for that reason, this film gets a modest recommendation from me..

Rating:
Summary: A rare sense of place for a plot driven film. Well done.
Review: Matt Dillon directed this film, and was also one of the writers. He stars in it too.

The film starts in an aftermath of a hurricane on the East Coast, with interviews of people who have lost their homes. We soon become aware, however, that the insurance company on which they depended, and which is based outside the United States, has no money to pay the claims. The investigation finds Matt Dillon running the insurance company's New York office and it seems that he is completely innocent. Suddenly, though, he takes off for Bangkok and then on into Cambodia in search of the man who was behind the scam. His relationship with the top guy, played by James Cain, is complicated though and, as the story moves along, the plot thickens.

Gerard Depardieu is cast as one of those expatriates who runs a sleazy hotel in Cambodia. His performance shines and this is clearly the best and most convincing role in the film. Everyone else, including a local Cambodian who helps our hero and a blonde babe archeologist who Dillon romances, are just there to help the setting of the fast moving, but impossible plot.

In my opinion, though, the star of the film is Cambodia itself. The cinematography was great and I came away with a sense of place that is rare in a plot-driven film. The story did hold my attention, as there were some interesting twists and turns of the story and was generally well done. As it wasn't targeted to an audience looking for an artsy or meaningful film, it definitely fulfilled its limited purposed. Every film does not have to be an Academy Award winner. Some are just for pure entertainment. And for that reason, this film gets a modest recommendation from me..

Rating:
Summary: A road to nowhere
Review: Moody, atmospheric, but ultimately a very empty movie. Dillon stumbles over himself in his directorial debut. There are some fine moments, and the movie develops a good pace, but Dillon didn't seem to have any idea where to take this movie. The viewer is left to stumble along with him in his attempt to navigate the troubled waters of Cambodia.

What I liked most about the movie was the mood it created, a nihilistic view of Cambodia in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Although essentially a contemporary tale, the action could have occurred anytime in the last 25 years. The streets, cities, hotels all have a run-down look. The characters move around in it as the would an Antonioni movie, but Dillon isn't quite up to the challenge despite assembling a fine cast. In the end, you don't feel rewarded for your effort, as the themes break down in a very weak climax.

Rating:
Summary: A road to nowhere
Review: Moody, atmospheric, but ultimately a very empty movie. Dillon stumbles over himself in his directorial debut. There are some fine moments, and the movie develops a good pace, but Dillon didn't seem to have any idea where to take this movie. The viewer is left to stumble along with him in his attempt to navigate the troubled waters of Cambodia.

What I liked most about the movie was the mood it created, a nihilistic view of Cambodia in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Although essentially a contemporary tale, the action could have occurred anytime in the last 25 years. The streets, cities, hotels all have a run-down look. The characters move around in it as the would an Antonioni movie, but Dillon isn't quite up to the challenge despite assembling a fine cast. In the end, you don't feel rewarded for your effort, as the themes break down in a very weak climax.

Rating:
Summary: What were they thinking?
Review: OK... I'll give them this: the scenery with the temples and such was nice to look at, but the script was awful, the acting was awful, and the whole thing just ...stank. I asked Blockbuster for my money back.

Six of us watched the movie and we all were left dumbfounded that anybody even funded this boondoggle. I think my dog could write a better script.

If I could possibly give this movie "0" stars, I would.

Rating:
Summary: Had the Right Potential, Just Missing that Extra Something
Review: The cinematography was absolutely stunning and the detail Matt Dillon puts into absorbing the culutre around him is fantastic. I have family from neighboring countries in South East Asia, and it's refreshing to know that Cambodia's beliefs and customs are similar to our own. Matt Dillon captured that very well in this film, and listening to the commentary, you can tell he went through great expense to ensure all the cultural and religious details were right and consistent.

However, he seemed to have left his plot hanging loosely in the wind. The approach to the story was good, using sort of a Joseph Conrad view of things: hearing the testimonies of the other characters that point clues towards his boss's whereabouts and boss's intentions. A light tribute to the Heart of Darkness. But then his character gets distracted along the way by events, etc., then boom the truth comes out. What might have helped this become a more poignat film is if James Caan's chracter remained a bit more of a mystery much the way Marlon Brando's character did in Apocalypse Now. In this movie, the audience is privvy to information about James Caan's whereabouts and secret dealings that Matt Dillon has know knowledge of. In other words, the point of view of the story changes in midstream. At first we're seeing things through the eyes of Matt Dillon, then suddenly we are seeing everything going on in the movie. Not very consistent and certainly threw off the rhythm of the film.

Overall, a decent flick with wonderful imagery and a great international cast.

Rating:
Summary: beautiful, beautiful movie
Review: well i just loved this .. from start to finish, and the music was fantastic too .. it really is a love story not just between men and women but also love for God and love for life.

Rating:
Summary: beautiful
Review: well this movie was just brilliant ... music was fantastic and the locations also .. it is a beautiful love story also .. not just love between men and women .. but love for life and God.