 | Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Starring: Forrest Whitaker, Cliff Gorman, Henry Silva, John Tormey, Isaach De Bankholé |
Jim Jarmusch is one of those independent film-makers that likes to play with the minds of his viewers. He purposely adds hidden layers to his films and his latest, "Ghost Dog", is no exception. At first viewing, I was impressed with the clever intertwining of an ageing Mafioso, a modern day "hit" man who happens to live by the disciplines of 18th Century Samurai, 1930's cartoons, a nod to Akira Kurosawa, and some very funny moments in this rather tragic tale. On second viewing I realised, after peeling off the layers, that this film is a serious metaphysical meditation on death and dying and the codes of conduct by which they are played out. Pay close attention to this film for you never know what lies in wait in the next scene. "Ghost Dog" tells the tale of a mysterious, reclusive assassin who works for a Mafia family, and who lives by the ancient codes of the Samurai. His "hits" are cold, impersonal, and perfectly executed. He lives in a shoddy tenement and can be contacted only by carrier pigeon. His daily readings from the book Hagekure: The way of the Samurai, become the narrative of the film. Ghost Dog (Forrest Whitaker) has only one friend, an Ice Cream street vendor, Raymond (Isaach De Bankholé). Raymond only speaks French. yet the bond between the two is so close that they understand each other perfectly. As a young man, Ghost Dog is saved from a deadly beating by a lowly Mafia wiseguy named Louie (John Tormey). From that point he pledges his loyalty to Louie and exists solely to do his bidding. When Mafia Chieftain, Ray Vargo (Henry Silva) orders an ill advised "hit", Louie contacts Ghost Dog who, as usual, performs the deed to perfection. Unfortunately, the victim is having an affair with Vargo's daughter who is in the room when Ghost Dog makes the kill. Vargo orders Louie to end Ghost Dog's life. It is at this point that the film takes on a mysterious spiritual quality and effectively leads to the tragic, deeply personal ending. Whitaker's understated performance and RZA's slow pulsating beat literally keep this film together. Jarmusch's casting is perfect, particularly with the old Don. It has been said that the real Mafia was pleased with their portrayal in "The Godfather." I seriously doubt that they will be pleased by their portrayal as bumbling old men in "Ghost Dog." The performances of Silva, Gorman and Tormey are noteworthy and add much to the rich texture of the film. The relationship between Ghost Dog and Raymond are some of the best scenes in the film. Jarmusch has added another cult classic to his repertoire. This film received little attention in theatres. Its play in Los Angeles didn't last a week. The poor distribution of "Ghost Dog" is a loss for many film lovers. Fortunately, it is now being released on video. I urge you to watch for it. This is a film that can be enjoyed many times over. |