Tag: jim jarmusch

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

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.

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Permanent Vacation

Permanent Vacation is a 1980 movie directed by Jim Jarmusch.

Permanent Vacation tells the story of Aloysius Parker, a self-professed drifter who is searching for a deeper meaning to his life. He wanders through New York City and meets a variety of unique individuals during his quest.

In some respects, Permanent Vacation feels as aimless as its main character. This is a meandering movie that doesn’t follow any traditional narrative structure nor presents any deeper moral message. We’re immediately warned of this through Allie’s narration: “This is the story of how I got from there to here or I should say from here to here.”

However, Jarmusch does an extraordinary job staging an environment that feels more like an expose. Naturally, there’s a low budget ethos that contributes to the movie’s gritty, natural feel. Yet, the writing and subdued acting performances allows Permanent Vacation to function more as a documentary.

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