Every month, we at The Spool select a filmmaker to explore in greater depth — their themes, their deeper concerns, how their works chart the history of cinema and the filmmaker’s own biography. For January we’re celebrating the work of godfather of independent film Jim Jarmusch. Read the rest of our coverage here.
If you were in college in the early 2000s, you’re more than likely familiar with the DVD cover of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. Rising to ubiquitous dorm room status, the 1999 Jim Jarmusch crime-thriller-by-way-of-character-study is a bizarre meditation on… well, that’s the question, isn’t it?
Do you have to “get” a movie to enjoy it?
Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog would argue no.
Ghost Dog does not shy away from its absurdity. Centering around Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker), a hitman for the mob who steeps himself in the Eastern tradition of the samurai, the film is presented both as a linear narrative as well as a vignette piece in the tradition of Jarmusch’s own Coffee and Cigarettes. Segments of the film are introduced with passages and text from the Hagakure, the book of the samurai, which inform not only the themes of the movie but directly refer to upcoming events.
Part mob flick, part hip-hop-fueled Eastern philosophy exploration, part Forest Whittaker Driving Simulator, Ghost Dog defies typical characterization. Just when one believes they have Ghost Dog figured out, the audience is greeted with a clip of The Itchy and Scratchy Show, the cartoon-within-a-show-within-The Simpsons, just before a low-frills, blood-soaked action sequence. There are at least half a dozen cartoon clips sprinkled throughout Ghost Dog, from Woody Woodpecker to Betty Boop and if you asked this reviewer why they would be hard-pressed to come up with a definitive reason.
Some themes are readily apparent – from the moment Whittaker grabs Louise Vargo’s (Tricia Vessey) tattered paperback copy of Rashōmon, viewers will be keen to pick up on the differences in flashback points of view – specifically a subtle but important change between how Louie (John Tormey) and Ghost Dog remember their first meeting.
There is also a prevalent undercurrent of the perception of community and the act of othering. As Ghost Dog wears the target of mob vengeance on his back for the entirety of the second act (a vengeance that, honestly, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense) he is able to literally look his pursuers in the eye on the street without fear of recognition. Conversely, Ghost Dog is on a head nod and, “yo Ghost Dog!” basis with his community.
Everyone on the street knows Ghost Dog, and through the exploration of Ghost Dog’s friendship with the Haitian-born, French-speaking ice cream man Raymond (Isaach De Bankolé) Jarmusch demonstrates that respect, status, and honor are not just words from a mob movie, but personal beliefs that transcend language barriers or social status.
Smash these scenes next to straight-to-the-camera racist diatribes from the mob bosses and underbosses, interspersed with mafia renditions of Flava Flav lyrics, and it would almost appear as if Jarmusch is stating that the mafia is LARPing their themes of respect, status, and honor, while Ghost Dog and his community are living it.
Do you have to ‘get’ a movie to enjoy it? Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog would argue no.
Pulling the disparate elements together rests on the shoulders of Whitaker’s performance. Jarmusch is on record that the role was written with Whitaker in mind, and had he passed, the movie would never have materialized. This is not the unhinged Whitaker of Rogue One or Battlefield Earth, but a far more subdued and introspective character piece, one that juggles the absurdity of a modern-day samurai hit man who swirls his gun like a katana with the deeper meanings of mortality, of obligation, of existence.
No conversation about Ghost Dog would be complete without a mention of the soundtrack. Produced by Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA (his first film contribution), the beats and rhythms of RZA’s music seep into the fabric of the film’s gangland intrigue. From diegetic freestyles to subtle-yet-pulse-pounding driving beats, Whitaker’s Ghost Dog always has a CD in mind to pair with his particular mission.
You don’t have to “get” Ghost Dog to enjoy it; it’s an experience more open to interpretation, imparting a feeling, a mood, something that sticks with you even if you have trouble articulating why. If, like so many coming of age in the early aughts, it has just existed as a DVD cover or dorm room poster, you owe it to yourself to dive in, roll with it, and see what you’re left with on the other side.
Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai Trailer:
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country has Interstellar?
Maybe you’ve just seen Oppenheimer and have the strongest urge to marathon—or more fun yet, rank!—all of Christopher Nolan’s films. Or maybe you’re one of the few who haven’t seen Interstellar yet. If you are, then you should change that immediately; the dystopian epic is one of Nolan’s best, and with that incredible twist in ... Which Netflix Country has Interstellar?
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to Watch ESPN With A Free Trial
One of the major concerns people have before cutting the cord is potentially losing access to live sports. But the great thing about live TV streaming services is that you never lose that access. Minus the contracts and complications of cable, these streaming services connect you to a host of live channels, including ESPN. So ... How to Watch ESPN With A Free Trial
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT Sports With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT Sports With A Free Trial
How to Watch Comedy Central With a Free Trial
It’s no coincidence that many of today’s biggest comedians found their footing on Comedy Central: the channel is a bastion of emerging comic talents. It served as a playground for people like Nathan Fielder (Fielder For You), Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), Tim Robinson (Detroiters), and Dave Chappelle (Chappelle’s Show) before they shot ... How to Watch Comedy Central With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial