Original review by Kevin Jones, Zboneman.com.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is the latest film by the acclaimed independent-film director Jim Jarmusch. Jarmusch has written a fascinating film with the most bizarre premise of his bizarre film career. What’s even stranger is how well it works – even though you are often left to wonder “why” the events in this film are taking place.
Whitaker plays a hitman for hire in an anonymous big city who lives the way of the traditional Samurai. It’s certainly a well-made film, well-acted, well-written and full of oddly funny moments. Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) in a quietly devastating performance is indebted to a mobster played by John Tormey, whom, several years ago saved him from being beaten to death by a gang. As a result Whitaker serves Tormey like a loyal henchman, who communicates with his master only by carrier pigeon. I know, it sounds screwy, but you don’t lose interest.
Following a hit that went badly (Ghost Dog) was seen and therefor Tormey’s identity has been exposed, his master is now forced with the difficult necessity of ordering a hit on his most loyal Dog. At this point of the movie Whitaker is in no man’s land – caught between to rival mob operations, both of whom are out for his blood.
Jarmusch uses metaphorical parallels between the way of the Samurai and the code of “ethics” used by the Mafia: loyalty, honor, and so forth, but if there is any sort of deeper meaning to be gleaned from this film beyond this, it’s beyond me. Still, it’s an entertaining film, largely due to Whitakers magnetic performance.
There are moments of levity, you see a young mobster secretly lip-synching to some rap in a bathroom for example. And for all it’s novelty it’s not pretentious or played as camp, and I guess you have to hand it to Jarmusch and crew for succeeding mostly by doing something so completely different.
