Review of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) by Martin T — 01 Jul 2010
Just after I got out of college, I had this annoying hipster friend who listened to Wu Tang Clan. He started getting into all kinds of kung fu and samurai shit, thought he was a rapper, thought he was a real badass.
So when happens when Jim Jarmusch, king of the annoying hipsters, starts listening to Wu Tang? He makes a movie about a badass black samurai-influenced hitman and gets RZA to do the music. Jarmusch gives Ghost Dog (Forrest Whitaker, who admirably makes the most out of a barely-written character) a number of "cool" quirks, like training messenger pigeons and having a best friend who only speaks French.
He also depicts the (white) mobsters as clueless racists, clearly the kind of guys who wouldn't get Wu Tang. Except for the head white guy, who, in a moment I can only assume is meant to be comic, dances around his bathroom rapping along with Public Enemy.
Haha, it's an old white guy rapping! Borrowing lame gags from Adam Sandler now, are we, Jim? Despite its hip veneer and calculated badassery, it still manages to be a fairly entertaining movie. Ghost Dog is a likable character, and his various situations can be interesting.
And RZA's score is pretty good. I just can't help but think it would be much better in the hands of someone who didn't take it so damn seriously.
This review of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) was written by Martin T on 01 Jul 2010.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai has generally received very positive reviews.
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