City of Ghosts (2002)

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.

Director:

Matt Dillon

Writers:

Matt Dillon, Barry Gifford

Stars:

Matt Dillon, James Caan, Natascha McElhone

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Dillon	...	Jimmy
James Caan	...	Marvin
Natascha McElhone	...	Sophie
Gérard Depardieu	...	Emile (as Gerard Depardieu)
Kem Sereyvuth	...	Sok (as Sereyvuth Kem)
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Joseph Kaspar
Rose Byrne	...	Sabrina
Shawn Andrews	...	Robbie
Chalee Sankhavesa	...	Sideth
Christopher Curry	...	Larry Luckman
Rob Campbell	...	Simon (as Robert Campbell)
Bernard Merklen	...	Gerard
Jack Shearer	...	FBI Agent Burden
Kirk Fox	...	FBI Agent Philips
Kyoza	...	Rocky

Storyline

A con man flees to Southeast Asia when an international scam he was involved in goes sour. Suspecting he's been double-crossed by his long-time mentor, he sets off to Cambodia for his promised cut. What he finds there is a mysterious and hostile environment where even the most polished criminal can end up on deadly ground.

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Plot Keywords:

cambodia | nightclub | male bonding | loss of friend | buddhist temple | 

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Taglines:

where you go when you can't turn back.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

United Artists

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Khmer Russian

Release Date:

27 March 2003 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Beneath the Banyan Trees

Filming Locations:

Cambodia

Box Office

Budget:

$17,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,547, 27 April 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$43,061, 14 July 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists,Mainline Pictures,Banyan Tree

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Matt Dillon's writing debut, and his first directed theatrical film. His directorial debut was an episode of the television series Oz (1997).

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Goofs

Towards the end of the movie Jimmy is lying in the back seat of the cab with a red shirt covering his face. The cab driver wakes him up and Jimmy exits the cab and puts on a green shirt.

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Quotes

Joseph Kaspar: I'll call you if I want to see you.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to the People of Cambodia.

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Connections

Referenced in Ti piace Hitchcock? (2005)

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Soundtracks

Dear 5
(1998)
Written and Performed by Peter Whitehead
Courtesy of Strange Attractor Records

User Reviews

The third world without rose colored glasses

If all City of Ghosts was was a travelogue of postwar Cambodia it would be an accomplishment, but it is in its own way a well built film noir in a very unusual, very appropriate setting. Dillon's character goes to Cambodia to collect money from a real estate scam artist. Like the best noirs, what he finds has more to do with who he is than with any money.

Dillon is strong as the stories jaded, soiled hero. James Caan and Stellen Skarsgaard support well as the con men. And Gerard Depardieu provides strong support as a man who has apparently adjusted to living in hell. The movie starts a touch slowly but be patient. It's worth it. There isn't a lot of violence in this movie but what there is is fairly shocking.