Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai ★★½ 1999 (R)

Jarmusch takes a Far Eastern approach to the Mobhit man genre with “Dog,” whose title character, a contract killer played excellently by Whitaker, pledges himself to small-time hood Louie in the tradition of the Samurai after Louie saves his life. When one of his hits goes wrong, Ghost Dog is targeted for elimination, which leads to many dead bodies. Like most Jarmusch offerings, this one's quirky, disjointed, and not for everyone, but Whitaker's performance, and the off-beat humor make up for a lot. 116m/C VHS, DVD . Forest Whitaker, Cliff Gorman, Henry Silva, John Tormey, Isaach de Bankole, Tricia Vessey, Victor Argo, Gene Ruffini, Richard Portnow, Camille Winbush; D: Jim Jarmusch; W: Jim Jarmusch; C: Robby Muller.