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IMDbPro

City of Ghosts

  • 2002
  • R
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
Matt Dillon in 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.
Play trailer2:05
1 Video
53 Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

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.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.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
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    5.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Matt Dillon
    • Writers
      • Matt Dillon
      • Barry Gifford
    • Stars
      • Matt Dillon
      • James Caan
      • Natascha McElhone
    • 76User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    Watch Trailer

    Photos53

    Matt Dillon in City of Ghosts (2002)
    Matt Dillon and Natascha McElhone in City of Ghosts (2002)
    MATT DILLON stars as Jimmy and NATASCHA McELHONE stars as Sophie in United Artists' (with Mainline Productions and Banyan Tree) drama CITY OF GHOSTS.
    Matt Dillon in City of Ghosts (2002)
    Matt Dillon and Stellan Skarsgård in City of Ghosts (2002)
    Matt Dillon, Stellan Skarsgård, and Kem Sereyvuth in City of Ghosts (2002)
    Matt Dillon and Kem Sereyvuth in City of Ghosts (2002)
    Matt Dillon and Kem Sereyvuth in City of Ghosts (2002)
    James Caan in City of Ghosts (2002)
    James Caan in City of Ghosts (2002)
    Jimmy visits the Laughing Lotus for information.
    Matt Dillon in City of Ghosts (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Matt Dillon
    Matt Dillon
    • Jimmy
    James Caan
    James Caan
    • Marvin
    Natascha McElhone
    Natascha McElhone
    • Sophie
    Gérard Depardieu
    Gérard Depardieu
    • Emile
    • (as Gerard Depardieu)
    Kem Sereyvuth
    • Sok
    • (as Sereyvuth Kem)
    Stellan Skarsgård
    Stellan Skarsgård
    • Joseph Kaspar
    Rose Byrne
    Rose Byrne
    • Sabrina
    Shawn Andrews
    Shawn Andrews
    • Robbie
    Chalee Sankhavesa
    • Sideth
    Christopher Curry
    Christopher Curry
    • Larry Luckman
    Rob Campbell
    Rob Campbell
    • Simon
    • (as Robert Campbell)
    Bernard Merklen
    • Gerard
    Jack Shearer
    Jack Shearer
    • FBI Agent Burden
    Kirk Fox
    Kirk Fox
    • FBI Agent Philips
    Kyoza
    • Rocky
    Apichart Chusakul
    • Ming Chew
    • (as Abhijati Jusakul)
    Gennady Fleyscher
    • Nevesky
    Vladimir Yepifanov
    • Nevesky Thug
    • (as Vladamir Epifanov)
    • Director
      • Matt Dillon
    • Writers
      • Matt Dillon
      • Barry Gifford
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The buildings where the foggy final showdown takes place, are actually part of Bokor Hill Station, a colonial hill resort town built by the French in the 1920s. This site, on a mountain above Kampot in Southern Cambodia, included a church and Grand Bokor Palace, a hotel and casino. They were taken over by the Cambodian monarchs after the French left, and were a Khmer Rouge stronghold against the Vietnamese (the shelling is still visible, there are no windows left intact). Today the buildings are abandoned, crumbling and covered in red moss, but can still be visited.
    • Goofs
      Towards the end of the movie Jimmy is lying in the back seat of the cab holding a green shirt in his hand. But later his face is covered by a red shirt. The cab driver wakes him up and Jimmy exits the cab and puts on a green shirt before.
    • Quotes

      Teddy: You can't keep stealing from Peter to pay Paul. Sooner or later, Peter gets pissed off.

    • Crazy credits
      Thanks to the People of Cambodia.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Ti piace Hitchcock? (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Dear 5
      (1998)

      Written and Performed by Peter Whitehead

      Courtesy of Strange Attractor Records

    User reviews76

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Arright, don't stone me... but I'm going to compare this movie to Casablanca
    I'm not necessarily saying it's as good as "Casablanca", but I'm saying there are some interesting parallels. "Casablanca" is probably one of the most atmospheric and characteristic films of the 20th century. It was one of the first films to sink itself into a dreamlike setting, drawing heavily on its location: a forgotten waterhole in the desert where Western exiles slog through their lives waiting for who-knows-what. "City of Ghosts" is filled with the same dreamy, surrealistic feeling but with a layer of grime and sweat that gives it an air of realism at the same time. Hats off to rookie director Matt Dillon for not only having the guts to attempt it but to succeed.

    You may hear people, including Roger Ebert, calling the plot preposterous. A white collar hustler (Dillon) flees the USA and ends up in Cambodia searching for his enigmatic mentor who seems to be neck deep in bok choi himself. Sounds sorta like "The Color of Money" meets "Apocalypse Now", huh? Why not. Even Roger Ebert said the plot is not nearly as attention grabbing as the impressive setting, cinematography and mood.

    "Cityu of Ghosts" is reportedly the first major motion picture to be shot in Cambodia since the 1960s, and Dillon & his filmmaking crew didn't skimp on finding the best settings. The locations can best be summed up by a line from the film when James Caan, who is occupying the ex-governor's estate, says "What do you think?" To which someone answers, "Could use a coat of paint" and Caan fires back, "The entire country could use a coat of paint." In other words, the locations are full of majesty and grandeur but with a raw, unkempt appearance that only add to the charm.

    Some of my favorite scenes were at the tavern and hotel of innkeeper Emile (Gerard Depardieu), again reminding me of Bogart's "Rick's" in Casablanca. Depardieu plays a curious character, a tough guy who kicks thugs' butts while holding a baby under one arm. Among his staff is a trained monkey who steals from the patrons while Depardieu feverishly denies the monkey's existence. Haha, pure magic! Dillon himself plays a tough but clueless American who learns the ropes fast, while Caan plays a wiser type who seems to be on the verge of insanity with his delusional ideas. Both actors deliver.

    The soundtrack is also worth noting. Subtle yet memorable, particularly a recurring piece called "Dear 5" by Peter Whitehead. Look it up on Youtube if you get a chance, it will give you a decent idea of the moody, atmospheric show that's in store for you.

    Like I said earlier, don't expect to be blown away by the plot. Heck, even Casablanca had a pretty linear storyline. But what matters in this film is the presentation. In addition to "Casablanca" I would compare this film to "Witness in the War Zone" (with Christopher Walken) and an excellent Taiwanese gangster/zen flick called "The Drummer".
    helpful•8
    0
    • rooprect
    • Jun 28, 2013

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 27, 2003 (Israel)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • United Artists
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Central Khmer
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Beneath the Banyan Trees
    • Filming locations
      • Bangkok, Thailand
    • Production companies
      • United Artists
      • Mainline Pictures
      • Banyan Tree
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $357,197
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,547
      • Apr 27, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,277,187
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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