Review of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) by Shane K — 24 Nov 2009
A wonderful blend of action & quirky dark humour Ghost Dog:Way of the Samurai is a splendid mish mash of Western street culture with Eastern philosophy. Forest Whitaker in my opinion his defining role as a samurai/hitman with an unerring loyalty to his Daimyo (who just happens to be a Mafia soldier).
A cast of characters (the standout Flavor Flav loving underboss Sonny Valerio (played by Cliff Gorman)) that manage to be quirky(though not in a make you gnaw off your hand Gilmore Girls/Cameron Crowe way) while also exhibiting brutality when necessary that isn't blunted by aforementioned quirkiness.
The pacing of the film is as relentless as the ghost dog character with the conflict being an internal between Ghost Dog's Samurai code & the instinct to survive. The film doesn't cop out to the standard Hollywood notions of redemption.
Which is refreshing (to me at least). Add to this Jarmusch depiction of the "Modern Mob" (which could be described as the anti-Goodfellas) & a wholly mood setting eastern tinged RZA score & you've got an underrated classic & one of the films of the nineties.
This review of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) was written by Shane K on 24 Nov 2009.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai has generally received very positive reviews.
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