Waiting for the heat to cool from a failed U.S. insurance scam, Jimmy (Matt Dillon) grows restless in Bangkok. When he hears rumors that his partner and mentor Marvin has surfaced in Cambodia, he sets off to get 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. The further Jimmy gets in his search for Marvin, the deeper he plunges himself into a predicament from which he may not return.
For thoughts on City Of Ghosts, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
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Video Quality
City Of Ghosts debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 which appears to stem from a pretty solid older master from MGM. When comparing this to fellow Matt Dillon title Golden Gate newly released on disc the same day, this disc is in much better shape, likely due to it being nearly a decade more recent. The color palette is not going strictly for vibrancy, but it does an admirable job of capturing the hot, somewhat desaturated aesthetic of Cambodia. The vibe is supposed to be a bit dingy, and that registers here. Highlights can be a touch unwieldy, as some blooming occurs under the sun. Black levels are slightly better when it comes to depth, but they also could be better defined as you see signs of crush.
While this one could use a refresh, this is far from a disgrace as it at least avoids major signs of damage and digital tinkering. Compression artifacts and other digital anomalies are not a common occurrence, but they make an appearance a few times. There is a decent amount of texture within the costumes and environment thanks to the enhanced definition. There is a faint speckling of nicks here and there, but nothing that would qualify as major damage. The picture has not been scrubbed of its natural film grain, and the image holds pretty firm throughout. MGM has put out a pretty good disc for this one despite not giving it a remaster.
Audio Quality
MGM brings us this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that holds up well for the sonic needs of the story. The score from Tyler Bates establishes the tone of this narrative, and it maintains a good fidelity throughout. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects have a pretty decent place to show off when it comes to animal noises and sounds of engines. The sounds of certain bustling crowd moments and thrilling sequences add some heft to the mix. There are small ways in which this could be improved, but MGM has done well enough for this. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on the disc.
Final Thoughts
City Of Ghosts is much better at establishing an evocative atmosphere more so than delivering anything narratively fulfilling. The film is not without its visual flair, showing signs of directorial talent with his feature debut, but the narrative hits almost every expected beat along the way with very little nuance. The performers are giving it their all, but they alone cannot elevate this to anything special. MGM has brought this film to Blu-Ray with a pretty good A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. Once again, this is mostly for those who really like members of the ensemble.
City Of Ghosts can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: MGM has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
