”
City of Ghosts
”
is a terrific mystery of a film from one of our best actors, the
underrated Matt Dillon, who made his acting debut as a kid in
1978’s
”
Over the Edge.
”
“City of Ghosts” is a terrific mystery of a film from one of our best actors, the underrated Matt Dillon, who made his acting debut as a kid in 1978’s “Over the Edge.” Since then, he has crafted a supreme body of work that includes such excellent films as “Tex,” “The Outsiders,” to the more recent and underrated “Wild Things.”
Most good actors make good directors because of their respect for acting and actors in general. By not stepping in and by believing in the characterizations, a director can actually make a better film. When directors start pushing actors around, trying to coach their performance to their generalities, they can alienate their cast and won’t establish trust.
Dillon does a remarkable job here and even helped write the script with the great novelist and screenwriter Barry Gifford (“Wild At Heart,” “Lost Highway”). What they come up with is a convoluted puzzle that gradually reveals itself in bits and pieces, and the film’s plot is super fun for the audience to try to figure out.
As the film opens, a huge hurricane destoys a large portion of the U.S. East Coast, wiping out the dreams of many of the homeowners who live in the areas that were hit. The homeowners, who are insured by the Capable Trust Company, are in for a big surprise when they make their insurance claims, finding that the company can’t pay their claims because they are broke.
How could this be from a supposedly reputable company? The film’s main character, Jimmy Cremming (Matt Dillon), is so upset that he makes it a point to find out what’s going on because he actually is in charge of the Trust’s office on the East Coast.
After researching the infrastructure of the company more completely, Jimmy finds ties to the owner of the insurance company, whose only name reference is the single name of Marvin (James Caan). Because of the fraud involved by the company he works for, the Feds come to Jimmy asking for answers to pertinent questions, such as: Where’s all the money?
Jimmy finds out that Marvin was last seen in Cambodia, in a town known as Phnom Penh, and the film benefits from its actual Cambodian location shooting, giving it a resonance it wouldn’t have had if shot elsewhere.
Upon arriving in Cambodia, it is obvious we will be introduced to characters who will eventually lead Jimmy to Marvin. In the movie’s best scene, we meet one of the best characters I’ve seen in a long time in a bartender named Emile, wonderfully played by France’s greatest actor, Gerard Depardieu. He runs a tourist bar and hotel and takes bouncer duties on as well, all while employing his favorite pet monkey as a pick pocket, maybe as a way to secure some extra money.
The hotel also provides a place for the film’s supporting characters to be introduced, including the gorgeous Sophie (Natasha McElhone), who provides a capable love interest for Jimmy. We also meet Sok (Kem Sereyvuth), who will serve as Jimmy’s guide in finding Marvin, as well as Casper (Stellan Skarsgard), who claims to be close friends of Marvin but proves difficult to get prudent information from.
When Marvin finally appears, it is a cinematic moment, because his character has been so mysterious until three quarters of the film has played that we feel as though we know him. However, Marvin offers even more surprises on his arrival.
Giving away much more would ruin the fun of the film, which reveals its intricate plot with each successive action by the main characters. “City Of Ghosts” is a superb, entertaining and mysterious film, and marks the debut of a fine director.
Like “The Dancer Upstairs,” the debut directing effort by John Malkavich, Matt Dillon’s “City Of Ghosts” proves actors actually have a place behind the camera as well. “City of Ghosts” is a classic story that’s well done and terrifically acted, a mature, sensitive work from an actor who many thought couldn’t pull it off.
CITY OF GHOSTS. Directed by Matt Dillon. Written by Matt Dillon and Barry Gifford. With James Caan, Matt Dillon, Gerard Depardieu, Rose Byrne, Stellan Skarsgard, Natascha McElhone and Kem Sereyvuth. Rated R (Violence and language), 115 minutes. Now playing at Bay Area theaters.
