Film: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Country: USA
Released: May 1999
Runtime: 116 minutes
Genre: Crime Drama
Studio: Artisan, JVC, The Woodsman
Influenced: Tarantino, Rian Johnson, David Simon, Wesley Snipes, Park Chan-Wook
To my mind, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is Jim Jarmusch’s most watchable and re-watchable film. The director made a name for himself with a series of critically acclaimed films in the 1980s, notably the black comedy Stranger Than Paradise (1984), but Ghost Dog was a step up in terms of depth of plot and characterisation. Jarmusch conceived the film as a meditation on the samurai code of honour in a modern, urban setting by combining Japanese philosophy with the story of an African-American hitman. The Hagakure, an early 18th century practical guide to the samurai way of life, is the guiding text for the main character of Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker), who is a loyal "retainer" to Louie (John Tormey), a Mafia mobster who saved his life. Jarmusch's use of intertitles featuring passages from the Hagakure throughout the course of the film provides philosophical and thematic context to the narrative, allowing the audience to understand the principles that guide Ghost Dog's actions and decisions.
There are glimpses of what motivated Ghost Dog to become a hitman in his violent nightmares and the picture of a loved one on the wall of his rooftop hideaway. His best friend is a French-speaking ice cream seller, Raymond (Isaach de Bankolé), who he can't understand and who seems to represent the joy and innocence that Ghost Dog has lost. As he navigates the dangerous world of organised crime, he faces an internal and external conflict between the samurai code he lives by and the violent, chaotic world he inhabits. The film is a homage to Japanese culture (notably Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon and Seijun Suzuki’s Branded To Kill), as well as Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samouraï, but it is also a parody of the 1990s trend for mafia movies. There's an hilarious scene in which three gangsters interview Louie about Ghost Dog and find out he communicates by messenger pigeon – not passenger pigeon! Henry Silva (as Ray) is comically scary, as is his racist sidekick, while Sonny (Cliff Gorman) steals the scene when he talks about his favourite rappers.
Ghost Dog's pigeon-keeping practices are based on an actual subculture of pigeon racing in many American cities, while the film's eclectic cast – including a cameo from Jamie Hector (later of Marlo Stanfield fame in The Wire) – also contributes to its distinct atmosphere. The movie's narrative is slow-paced and contemplative, much like Jarmusch's other work, but in this instance it allows for a deeper exploration of character and theme. RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan composed the film's original score, infusing it with a hip-hop soundtrack that blurs the lines between Eastern and Western music, reflecting the clash of cultures at the heart of the film. I particularly like the scene in which RZA's music soundtracks Ghost Dog on a rooftop overlooking New Jersey practicing his swordplay and elegantly swiping at the air with his katana. RZA also makes a memorable cameo himself at the end of the film.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai received critical acclaim for its unique and unconventional storytelling. It won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize at Cannes in 1999, and also received two nominations at the 2000 Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Isaach De Bankolé and Best Cinematography for Robby Müller. Forest Whitaker received a nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture at the 2000 Satellite Awards. While the film didn't achieve widespread commercial success, it has since gained a cult following and earned widespread recognition for its originality. Whitaker's performance as Ghost Dog has been particularly praised, and the film is often noted for its distinctive and successful fusion of Eastern and Western influences.
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