I am mesmerized by this movie. With DVD I was able to dissect this gorgeous movie, scene for scene, and there are many memorable scenes, believe me. From the beginning I knew I had a movie I was going to enjoy. Check out the perfectly cast Jack Shearer as the FBI guy, the Cambodian rickshaw driver, the general, the wheelchair expatriate, the doorman at the hotel, the Russian mafia, and these are secondary roles, but each had nuances and texture that is rare in films today, in my humble opinion. Matt Dillon, who co-wrote and directed this film, displayed patience and allowed these actors the time they needed to create these scenes. Dillon was perfect in his role as a confused and guilty grifter, who travels to Cambodia to seek out his mentor, James Caan. Caan is absolutely great in his role, and the karaoke scene with him singing in Cambodian is worth the price of admission. Every scene he is in is memorable. Cann's sidekick, Stellan Skarsgård, has you guessing throughout the movie. Secondary to these three you have very interesting performances by Gérard Depardieu as the hotel owner, and Natascha McElhone as the archeologist. The film score is fabulous, the Cambodian city and country scenery is tantalizing, and with DVD the director's commentary allows you to hear Dillon discuss the details of filming in this foreign and beautiful land. This is filmaking at its best, and, probably its hardest. The physical difficulties encountered and overcome to make this movie are reason for applause. I have a friend who rented it on DVD, watched it one time, and returned it. I rented it, watched it over and over again, dissecting every scene, and bought it. This explains the mixed reviews for this film, but take it from me, this movie has it all. This is the first DVD I have ever purchased, and I am sure I will enjoy watching it from time to time when every thing on the tube sucks

I thought this movie was excellant. I did not see it at any theatres in Florida but after renting it at Blockbuster I bought two copies, one for my girl friend and one for her daughter. I thought it was that good!

The plot and the action were fantasitc. I found out that this was Matt Dillon's first crack at directing. He did a wonderful job and he clearly falls in to the catagory of "great directors" and not just a pretty face any longer. I loved it!

The cinematography was absolutely stunning and the detail Matt Dillon puts into absorbing the culutre around him is fantastic. I have family from neighboring countries in South East Asia, and it's refreshing to know that Cambodia's beliefs and customs are similar to our own. Matt Dillon captured that very well in this film, and listening to the commentary, you can tell he went through great expense to ensure all the cultural and religious details were right and consistent.

However, he seemed to have left his plot hanging loosely in the wind. The approach to the story was good, using sort of a Joseph Conrad view of things: hearing the testimonies of the other characters that point clues towards his boss's whereabouts and boss's intentions. A light tribute to the Heart of Darkness. But then his character gets distracted along the way by events, etc., then boom the truth comes out. What might have helped this become a more poignat film is if James Caan's chracter remained a bit more of a mystery much the way Marlon Brando's character did in Apocalypse Now. In this movie, the audience is privvy to information about James Caan's whereabouts and secret dealings that Matt Dillon has know knowledge of. In other words, the point of view of the story changes in midstream. At first we're seeing things through the eyes of Matt Dillon, then suddenly we are seeing everything going on in the movie. Not very consistent and certainly threw off the rhythm of the film.

Overall, a decent flick with wonderful imagery and a great international cast.

Matt Dillon directed this film, and was also one of the writers. He stars in it too.

The film starts in an aftermath of a hurricane on the East Coast, with interviews of people who have lost their homes. We soon become aware, however, that the insurance company on which they depended, and which is based outside the United States, has no money to pay the claims. The investigation finds Matt Dillon running the insurance company's New York office and it seems that he is completely innocent. Suddenly, though, he takes off for Bangkok and then on into Cambodia in search of the man who was behind the scam. His relationship with the top guy, played by James Cain, is complicated though and, as the story moves along, the plot thickens.

Gerard Depardieu is cast as one of those expatriates who runs a sleazy hotel in Cambodia. His performance shines and this is clearly the best and most convincing role in the film. Everyone else, including a local Cambodian who helps our hero and a blonde babe archeologist who Dillon romances, are just there to help the setting of the fast moving, but impossible plot.

In my opinion, though, the star of the film is Cambodia itself. The cinematography was great and I came away with a sense of place that is rare in a plot-driven film. The story did hold my attention, as there were some interesting twists and turns of the story and was generally well done. As it wasn't targeted to an audience looking for an artsy or meaningful film, it definitely fulfilled its limited purposed. Every film does not have to be an Academy Award winner. Some are just for pure entertainment. And for that reason, this film gets a modest recommendation from me..

Moody, atmospheric, but ultimately a very empty movie. Dillon stumbles over himself in his directorial debut. There are some fine moments, and the movie develops a good pace, but Dillon didn't seem to have any idea where to take this movie. The viewer is left to stumble along with him in his attempt to navigate the troubled waters of Cambodia.

What I liked most about the movie was the mood it created, a nihilistic view of Cambodia in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Although essentially a contemporary tale, the action could have occurred anytime in the last 25 years. The streets, cities, hotels all have a run-down look. The characters move around in it as the would an Antonioni movie, but Dillon isn't quite up to the challenge despite assembling a fine cast. In the end, you don't feel rewarded for your effort, as the themes break down in a very weak climax.