City of Ghosts (2002)

City of Ghosts: Directed by Matt Dillon. With Matt Dillon, James Caan, Natascha McElhone, Gérard Depardieu. A con man (Matt Dillon) travels to Cambodia (also on the run from law enforcement in the U.S.) to collect his share in an insurance scam, but discovers more than he bargained for.

“u0026quot;City of Ghostsu0026quot; works like a film noir suspense thriller, Dillon and co-writer Barry Gifford also layered human drama into the mix. Gifford wrote the novel u0026quot;Wild At Heartu0026quot; 1990, which David Lynch adapted and directed; he also co-scripted with Lynch on u0026quot;Lost Highwayu0026quot; 1997. No wonder I felt some (Twin Peaks-like) Lynch atmosphere when Caan and Skarsgård were at some remote location – kinda eerie and sinister with the camera approach suggesting foreboding elements a-lurking.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI like the film right from the start – intrigue is established in the prologue: the TV news, the simple and brief office scenes – within minutes we are given the backdrop to the story yet to unfold. We are following a mystery, right beside Dillonu0026#39;s character, Jimmy. We landed in Cambodia in no time. Good or evil, the enchantment starts. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s wonderful to see the down to earth cyclo driver Sok, portrayed by local Cambodian Kem Sereyvuth – how the friendship between him and Jimmy evolved, developed, matured. Then thereu0026#39;s Skarsgård, bringing some of his u0026quot;Insomniau0026quot; insecurity aura with him, is the doubtful associate Kaspar. Should you, could you, trust or depend on him? Ah, Gérard Depardieuu0026#39;s Emile, one slick (business man) dual bar and hotel owner, who can handle baby, monkey, clients and hooligans all at the same time. Itu0026#39;s one juicy role for Depardieu without even having to dress up – in the most casual of manners, he inhabited this man in subtle strokes of flamboyance. We get chuckles and humorous relief whenever weu0026#39;re with him. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJames Caan, the veteran thespian, in his elements again. His character Marvin is a mix of u0026quot;The Yard,u0026quot; u0026quot;Mickey Blue Eyes,u0026quot; u0026quot;Leaving Las Vegas,u0026quot; u0026quot;The Way of the Gun,u0026quot; and u0026quot;Godfatheru0026quot; savvy and then some. Is he a mentor cum father-figure whou0026#39;s protective of Jimmy, or could he be the disappearing real father to Jimmy? Contradictions, confusing sentiments, Jimmy has to sort out. Yes, love inherently beckons. Natascha McElhone provides that niche of an important ingredient to living – Jimmy is discovering himself and learning whatu0026#39;s important in life through this journey. u0026#39;Both Sides Nowu0026#39; heu0026#39;s experienced, and yes, he may u0026#39;really donu0026#39;t know life at allu0026#39; after all, but we have a clear blue sky shot with clouds – listening to Joni Mitchellu0026#39;s song, it almost seems like the film was plotted with her lyrics in mind. The song sung in Asian language gives a heartwarming hopeful feeling as the credits rolled. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCinematographer Jim Denault seems to be a favorite with women Indie filmmakers – Patricia Cardoso: u0026quot;Real Women Have Curvesu0026quot; 2002, Katherine Diekmann: u0026quot;A Good Babyu0026quot; 2000, Kimberly Peirce: u0026quot;Boys Donu0026#39;t Cryu0026quot; 1999, Jill Sprecher: u0026quot;Clockwatchersu0026quot; 1997. u0026quot;City of Ghostsu0026quot; must be a rewarding experience for him to shoot on location at Cambodia and Thailand, besides Canada and New York.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBravo to Matt Dillonu0026#39;s persistence (6 years) in realizing this first film. MGM and United Artists were behind the production and distribution of the film. The official site provides interesting production notes.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJohn Malkovichu0026#39;s directorial debut u0026quot;The Dancer Upstairsu0026quot; came out the same weekend as Dillonu0026#39;s. u0026quot;City of Ghostsu0026quot; is more entertaining per se. Malkovichu0026#39;s film, in a way, is more cerebral with political tone; Javier Badem effectively portrays the empathetic police detective Augustin, whou0026#39;s a romantic at heart.”