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:

African American | Samurai | Pigeon | Haitian | Ice Cream

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)

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:

Most of the license plates visible on cars in the film read "Industrial State." (A New York inspection sticker is visible in the windshield of a car that Ghost Dog drives, however.) When Ghost Dog swaps his plates with those of another car at a rest stop, the new, differently colored plates read "Highway State."

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Ghostdog was driving his first stolen car, the in-car scenes show the headlight on. But during the outside shots, it shows the headlight off, only the dimmer driving light on. Then later when he parked, it shows the headlight on again.

Quotes:

Louie: It's a pigeon. It must be a carrier pigeon or whatever.
Joe Rags: Passenger pigeon! They've been extinct since 1914!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Homestarrunner.com: Everything Else, Volume 2 (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Fast Shadow

The tale of an inner-city, New York, Samurai warrior by Jim Jarmusch

This new film, written and directed by the Dean of Independent film makers ("Down by Law," "Night on Earth," and "Dead Man," just to name a few of his masterpieces), is a WONDERFUL, entertaining, and powerful work about a New York City inner city young man, played marvellously by Forest Whitaker, who studies and lives the way of the ancient Samurai warriors. He has adopted the role of retainer to a minor mob boss, whose orders he carries out with flawless precision. Jarmusch once again pairs up with cinematographer Robby Muller, with the predictable result that the film is visually magnificent. In typical Jarmusch fashion, the hip hop sound track (music by RZA) is also masterful. "Ghost Dog" is exciting, emotional (even touching), engaging, and, most unexpectedly, funny.