There is so much to admire in Matt Dillon's City of Ghosts that the feeling left over after watching it is an unsettling sense of disappointment and unfairness.
City of Ghosts (2003)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:23
Fresh:11
Rotten:12
Average Rating:5.7/10
Consensus: Atmospheric, but that's about it.
Theatrical Release:Apr 25, 2003 Limited
Box Office: $275,998
Synopsis:
Jimmy Cremmins (Matt Dillon) has been working as a front man for a bogus insurance company set up by his longtime mentor, Marvin (James Caan). In the aftermath of a disastrous hurricane, claims...
Jimmy Cremmins (Matt Dillon) has been working as a front man for a bogus insurance company set up by his longtime mentor, Marvin (James Caan). In the aftermath of a disastrous hurricane, claims against their fabricated coverage come pouring in. With Marvin living as an expatriate in Southeast Asia, Jimmy is forced to face the subsequent chaos and investigation on his own. He decides instead to flee and re-group with Marvin in Asia, against Marvin's wishes.
After a short stay in Bangkok, Jimmy goes to Cambodia in search of Marvin. During his pursuit he finds himself a stranger in the mysterious and often hostile environs of Southeast Asia. With the aid of the duplicitous Kaspar (Stellan Skarsgård), another of Marvin's business associates, Jimmy eventually finds Marvin, who attempts to convince Jimmy to join him in his latest venture, the development of a large scale casino with a Cambodian ex-general. But Cambodia is another world - one in which the rules are different, a world where violence isn't merely a threat but a reality - and even the savvy Marvin ends up in over his head.
As Jimmy finds himself drawn further down a darkening path of deception, it also becomes his path of self-discovery.
United Artists, Mainline Productions, and Banyan Tree present, in association with Kintop Pictures, the byzantine drama City of Ghosts. The writing/directing debut of actor Matt Dillon, City of Ghosts stars Dillon, James Caan, Natascha McElhone, Gerard Depardieu, and Stellan Skarsgård. Written by Dillon & Barry Gifford, the film was produced by Willi Baer, Michael Cerenzie, and Deepak Nayar with line producer Rony Yakov and co-producers J.B. Meyer & Olivier Granier. The talented production team includes music by Tyler Bates, production design by David Brisbin, editing by Howard E. Smith, and cinematography by Jim Denault.
Starring: Matt Dillon, James Caan, Natascha McElhone, Gerard Depardieu
Starring: Matt Dillon, James Caan, Natascha McElhone, Gerard Depardieu, Stellan Skarsgaard, Shawn Andrews
Director: Matt Dillon
Director: Matt Dillon
Screenwriter: Barry Gifford, Matt Dillon
Producer: Willi Baer, Michael Cerenzie, Deepak Nayar
Composer: Tyler Bates
Studio: MGM/UA
Get This Movie
Reviews for City of Ghosts
While it won't be remembered as great cinema, it is actually a tight piece of film noir.
While the film is not short on ideas or implications, none of them is fully developed, leaving us little but atmosphere and warm whiskey to drink in.
Trades more effectively in states of alienated atmospheric delirium than it does the specific mechanics of plot.
A hyper-real portrait of life -- a vision as experienced during an adrenaline rush.
Goes a good way toward reinvigorating a forgotten genre, fashioning a movie world that's not quite real, but not strewn with slam-bam car chases and meaningless intrigue, either.
It's the usual murky affair, which has the unfortunate side-effect of pulling Dillon's direction down into the mire.
It's an actor's film, all right -- peppered with rich supporting performances but unconvincing in the telling.
I didn't believe in James Caan's cons, but I believed him, and at times like that it's helpful to stop keeping score and live in the moment.
The story is typical, but it's done intelligently and with evocative backgrounds in Cambodia.
City of Ghosts drips with mood and atmosphere, augmented by a beautiful score from Tyler Bates.
Eventually, the plot chokes and stumbles on its atmospheric effects. But Dillon has an encouraging affinity for landscape, tension and eccentricity.
Hard to say why City of Ghosts found the need to take us all the way to Cambodia for this small story -- and harder still to say exactly what we're taking with us when we leave.
Turns disappointingly generic, a series of scams and double crosses among greedy men.
A Southeast Asian thriller that positively reeks of atmosphere -- but is woefully lacking in narrative credibility or character development.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 77% 77% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 24% 24% | G-Force |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 82% 82% | Paranormal Activity |
| 57% 57% | 9 |
| 44% 44% | Jennifer's Body |
| 58% 58% | A Perfect Getaway |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- City of Ghosts at Rotten Tomatoes
- City of Ghosts at IGN
- City of Ghosts at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Moviefone lists their top ten nude scenes from film in 2009.

Thomas Leupp offers us Hollywood.com's take on the best films of the year.

Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



