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.
