henry silva | Trunk Shots Cinema

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a 1999 movie directed by Jim Jarmusch.

WHAT HAPPENS?

A hit man who lives by an ancient Samurai code finds himself targeted by the Mafia.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is an original, funny and spiritual take on identity and honor.

THE ACTORS

Forest Whitaker plays the title character, a loner who follows a Samurai code and raises pigeons. Whitaker blends a gentle stillness with the precise edge and violence of a killer. It’s a rare original character – Ghost Dog lives in a carefully cultivated ecosystem – one where his ancient philosophy governs his actions. When that system is disrupted, vengeance occurs. Whitaker gives a fascinating performance – his violent acts are internalized. There’s no fetishized style found in these actions – the character simply responds based on his code.

The supporting actors are an eclectic blend, featuring several veterans. Tough guy Henry Silva plays a corpse-like, cartoon-loving Mafia don. Cliff Gorman’s Sonny alternates between menacing and comic as he raps Flavor Flav lyrics. Isaach De Bankole is vibrant and animated as Raymond, Ghost Dog’s only friend. His exchanges with Whitaker are a highlight of the movie.

Caliber 9 (1972), The Italian Connection (1972) and Il Boss (1973) are movies directed by Fernando Di Leo.

WHAT HAPPENS?

Caliber 9 tells the story of Ugo, a former gangster who is forced back into the criminal life. The Italian Connection follows Luca, a pimp who is framed for stealing a shipment of heroin. Il Boss is the story of Lanzetta, a hitman who finds himself in the middle of warring Mafia families.

ONE LINE (Actually, TWO Lines) REVIEW

The highlight of Fernando di Leo’s trilogy is Caliber 9 – a terrific, hard-boiled crime movie. The Italian Connection is a clunky mess, while Il Boss is long-winded but features the best action of the three.

THE ACTORS

Gastone Moschin plays Ugo Piazza with a hardened, but zen-like quality. Ugo doesn’t say much but his words matter. The strength of the character lies both in his blunt physical prowess and acceptance of his unfortunate situation. He’s squeezed between the Mafia and police but doesn’t make excuses. Moschin’s choice as a lead actor is intriguing – his jagged, scarred face would suggest otherwise, but he gives a uniquely effective lead actor performance.

Phantom of the Paradise	5
Aguirre, the Wrath of God	4.75
Breathless	4.75
On the Waterfront	4.75
Stalker	4.75
Accattone	4.5
Bad Day at Black Rock	4.5
Band of Outsiders	4.5
Black Sunday	4.5
Gone in 60 Seconds	4.5
La Grande Bouffe	4.5
Paths of Glory	4.5
Pierret Le Fou	4.5
Pixote	4.5
Rashomon	4.5
Rosemary's Baby	4.5
Sanjuro	4.5
Solaris	4.5
The Ascent	4.5
The Conformist	4.5
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly	4.5
The Passion of Joan of Arc	4.5
Thief	4.5
Vertigo	4.5
Vivre sa Vie	4.5
A Woman is a Woman	4.25
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul	4.25
Barry Lyndon	4.25
Chinatown	4.25
Dillinger	4.25
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai	4.25
Le Samourai	4.25
Network	4.25
Once Upon a Time in the West	4.25
The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant	4.25
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith	4.25
The Devils	4.25
The Duellists	4.25
Two Lane Blacktop	4.25
Woyzeck	4.25
American Boy	4
Babylon	4
Burn!	4
Caliber 9	4
Cobra Verde	4
Cross of Iron	4
Cut-Throats Nine	4
Deliverance	4
Election	4
In the Name of the Father	4
Lady Snowblood	4
Le Petit Soldat	4
Paris is Burning	4
Permanent Vacation	4
Pickpocket	4
Requiem for a Gringo	4
Revolver	4
Revolver	4
Shadows	4
Singles	4
Sorcerer	4
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin	4
The 400 Blows	4
The Battle of Algiers	4
The Cruel Ones	4
The Decline of Western Civilization	4
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser	4
The Grand Duel	4
The Great SIlence	4
The Killing	4
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie	4
The Mercenary	4
The Moment of Truth	4
The Moment of Truth	4
The Shooting	4
The Wild One	4
The Yakuza	4
Touki Bouki	4
Un Flic	4
Waterloo	4
Z	4
Companeros	3.75
Dark of the Sun	3.75
Devil Times Five	3.75
Dirty Ho	3.75
Django	3.75
Four of the Apocalypse	3.75
Keoma	3.75
Race With the Devil	3.75
Requiescant	3.75
Rolling Thunder	3.75
Suburbia	3.75
Sympathy for the Devil	3.75
Syndicate Sadists	3.75
The Joke	3.75
The Master Touch	3.75
The Tough Ones	3.75
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders	3.75
Blood and Black Lace	3.5
Death Race 2000	3.5
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry	3.5
Django Kill: If You Live, Shoot!	3.5
His Name Was King	3.5
Navajo Joe	3.5
Nighthawks	3.5
Suspiria	3.5
The Hunting Party	3.5
The World's Greatest Sinner	3.5
City on Fire	3
El Topo	3
Il Boss	3
Man Hunt	3
Branded to Kill	2.5
Foxy Brown	2.5
The Italian Connection	2.5
Vanishing Point	2.5
Massacre: Mafia Style	2
The Thing	2

Tag: henry silva

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Fernando Di Leo’s Milieu Trilogy