Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
Coming Out at 6 October 1999 in theaters.
Action, Crime, Drama
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is crime film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. Forest Whitaker stars as the title character, the mysterious “Ghost Dog”, a hitman in the employ of the Mafia, who follows the ancient code of the samurai as outlined in the book of Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s recorded sayings, Hagakure. Critics have noted similarities between the movie and Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 film Le Samouraï.
The film opened to largely positive critical reception, and was nominated for both an Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature and a César Award for Best Foreign Film.
Ghost Dog sees himself as a retainer of Louie, a local mobster, who saved Ghost Dog’s life years earlier. While living as a hitman for the American Mafia, he adheres to the code of the samurai, and interprets and applies the wisdom of the Hagakure.
Louie tells Ghost Dog to kill a gangster, Handsome Frank, who is sleeping with the daughter of local mafia boss Vargo. Ghost Dog arrives and kills the gangster, before seeing that the girl is also in the room; he leaves her alive. To avoid being implicated in the murder of a made man, Vargo and his associate Sonny Valerio decide to get rid of Ghost Dog. Louie knows practically nothing about Ghost Dog, however, as the hitman communicates only by homing pigeon. The mobsters start by tracing all the pigeon coops in town. They find Ghost Dog’s cabin atop a building and kill his pigeons. Ghost Dog realizes he must kill Vargo and his men or they will kill him and his master.
During the day, Ghost Dog frequently visits the park to see his best friend, a French-speaking ice cream man named Raymond. Ghost Dog does not understand French and Raymond does not understand English, but the two nonetheless seem to connect with each other. Ghost Dog also befriends a little girl named Pearline, to whom he lends the book Rashōmon.
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Writer: Jim Jarmusch
Stars: Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey, Richard Portnow, John Tormey
Cast:
| Forest Whitaker | … | Ghost Dog |
| John Tormey | … | Louie |
| Cliff Gorman | … | Sonny Valerio |
| Dennis Liu | … | Chinese Restaurant Owner |
| Frank Minucci | … | Big Angie |
| Richard Portnow | … | Handsome Frank |
| Tricia Vessey | … | Louise Vargo |
| Henry Silva | … | Ray Vargo |
| Gene Ruffini | … | Old Consigliere |
| Frank Adonis | … | Valerio’s Bodyguard |
| Victor Argo | … | Vinny |
| Damon Whitaker | … | Young Ghost Dog |
| Kenny Guay | … | Boy in Window |
| Vince Viverito | … | Johnny Morini |
| Gano Grills | … | Gangsta in Red |
| Touché Cornel | … | Gangsta in Red |
| Jamie Hector | … | Gangsta in Red |
| Chuck Jeffreys | … | Mugger |
| Yan Ming Shi | … | Kung-Fu Master |
| Vinny Vella | … | Sammy the Snake |
| Joseph Rigano | … | Joe Rags |
| Roberto Lopez | … | Punk in Alley |
| Salvatore Alagna | … | Punk in Alley |
| Jerry Todisco | … | Punk in Alley |
| Isaach De Bankolé | … | Raymond |
| Dreddy Kruger | … | MC in blue |
| Timbo King | … | MC in blue |
| Clay Da Raider | … | MC in blue |
| Dead And Stinking | … | MC in blue |
| Deflon Sallahr | … | MC in blue |
| Camille Winbush | … | Pearline |
| Gary Farmer | … | Nobody |
| Clebert Ford | … | Pigeonkeeper |
| José Rabelo | … | Rooftop Boatbuilder |
| Jerry Sturiano | … | Lefty |
| Tony Rigo | … | Tony |
| Alfred Nittoli | … | Al |
| Angel Caban | … | Social Club Landlord |
| Luz Valentin | … | Girl in Silver |
| Rene Bluestone | … | Club Couple |
| Jordan Peck | … | Club Couple |
| Jonathan Teague Cook | … | Bear Hunter |
| Tracy Howe | … | Bear Hunter |
| Harry Shearer | … | Voice of Scratchy (voice) (archive footage) |
| Vanessa Hollingshead | … | Female Sheriff |
| Sharon Angela | … | Blonde with Jaguar |
| RZA | … | Samurai in Camouflage |
| Scott Bryce | … | Accountant |
| Paul Diomede | … | Young Gangster |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia
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