Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Director:

Jim Jarmusch

Writer:

Jim Jarmusch (written by)

Release Date:

6 October 1999 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

All assassins live beyond the law... only one follows the code

Plot:

An African American mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of old finds himself targeted for death by the mob.

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | African American | Haitian | Bird | Mafia

Awards:

5 nominations

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

Also Known As:

Ghost Dog (Australia)
Ghost Dog - Der Weg des Samurai (Germany)
Ghost Dog, la voie du samouraï (France)
El camino del samurai (Argentina) [es]
Ghost Dog (Brazil) [pt]
Ghost Dog (Chile) [es]
Ghost Dog - Matador Implacável (Brazil) (TV title) [pt]
Ghost Dog - den sidste samurai (Denmark) [da]
Ghost Dog - il codice del samurai (Italy) [it]
Ghost Dog, el camino del samurai (Spain) [es]
Ghost Dog: Droga samuraja (Poland) [pl]
Ghost dog - El camino del samurai (Mexico) [es]
Ghost dog - O tropos ton samurai (Greece) [el]
Ghost dog - Samurajens väg (Sweden) [sv]
Ghost dog - samuraiden tapaan (Finland) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

France | Germany | USA | Japan

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16 | Canada:14A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Pandora Filmproduktion

Trivia:

Ghost Dog and Louie have differing recollections of their first meeting. This is a reference to the story in Rashômon (1950) where people give varying accounts of the same event.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Pit Bull that always follows Ghost Dog around is referred to as a "He" when in fact it is a she.

Quotes:

Pearline: Can't you understand what he's saying?
Ghost Dog: No, I don't understand him. I don't speak French, only English. I never understand a word he says.
Pearline: And that's your best friend?
Ghost Dog: Yeah.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)

Soundtrack:

Raise Your Sword

The United States as seen through the eyes of an afro American samurai.

Jarmusch up to par with his best works. Always inspired and humorously aware of good sides and social contradictions in his country Jim shows us how a blend of races, creeds and traditions can come to a successful end. His irony on all aspects of interpersonal connections lightens the films spirit, without diminishing the spiritual impact of the samurai philosophy. Actors are at their best with a special mention for the mega-talented Whitaker who is once again a surprisingly versatile performer.