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Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan

Original title: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
  • 19991999
  • K-16K-16
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
90K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
Home Video Trailer from Artisan
Play trailer1:30
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama

An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of old finds himself targeted for death by the mob.An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of old finds himself targeted for death by the mob.An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of old finds himself targeted for death by the mob.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
90K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jim Jarmusch
  • Writer
    • Jim Jarmusch
  • Stars
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Henry Silva
    • John Tormey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jim Jarmusch
  • Writer
    • Jim Jarmusch
  • Stars
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Henry Silva
    • John Tormey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 373User reviews
    • 163Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations

    Videos2

    Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
    Trailer 1:30
    Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
    Bill Murray vs. Zombies? We're Dying for 'The Dead Don't Die'
    Clip 3:12
    Bill Murray vs. Zombies? We're Dying for 'The Dead Don't Die'

    Photos122

    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker and RZA in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker, Frank Adonis, Victor Argo, Tony Rigo, and John Tormey in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)
    Forest Whitaker in Ghost Dog - samuraiden tapaan (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Ghost Dogas Ghost Dog
    Henry Silva
    Henry Silva
    • Ray Vargoas Ray Vargo
    John Tormey
    John Tormey
    • Louieas Louie
    Cliff Gorman
    Cliff Gorman
    • Sonny Valerioas Sonny Valerio
    Dennis Liu
    • Chinese Restaurant Owneras Chinese Restaurant Owner
    Frank Minucci
    • Big Angieas Big Angie
    Richard Portnow
    Richard Portnow
    • Handsome Frankas Handsome Frank
    Tricia Vessey
    Tricia Vessey
    • Louise Vargoas Louise Vargo
    Gene Ruffini
    • Old Consigliereas Old Consigliere
    Frank Adonis
    Frank Adonis
    • Valerio's Bodyguardas Valerio's Bodyguard
    Victor Argo
    Victor Argo
    • Vinnyas Vinny
    Damon Whitaker
    Damon Whitaker
    • Young Ghost Dogas Young Ghost Dog
    Kenny Guay
    • Boy in Windowas Boy in Window
    Vince Viverito
    • Johnny Morinias Johnny Morini
    Gano Grills
    • Gangsta in Redas Gangsta in Red
    Touché Cornel
    • Gangsta in Redas Gangsta in Red
    Jamie Hector
    Jamie Hector
    • Gangsta in Redas Gangsta in Red
    Chuck Jeffreys
    Chuck Jeffreys
    • Muggeras Mugger
    • Director
      • Jim Jarmusch
    • Writer
      • Jim Jarmusch
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A hitman who lives by the code of the samurai, works for the mafia and finds himself in their crosshairs when his recent job doesn't go according to plan. Now he must find a way to defend himself and his honor while retaining the code he lives by. —Scott Jarreau
    • crime boss
    • samurai
    • african american
    • hitman
    • honor
    • 311 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • All assassins live beyond the law... only one follows the code
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • K-16
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jim Jarmusch stated in an interview that he wrote the role of Ghost Dog specifically for Forest Whitaker, and if Whitaker hadn't taken the role, the film probably would not have been made.
    • Goofs
      Before killing the hunters, Ghost Dog turns off his car by turning the key in the ignition. When he stole the car, however, he used an electronic device to override the ignition.
    • Quotes

      Ghost Dog: There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.

    • Crazy credits
      The second to last person thanked at the credits' close is Akira Kurosawa--the Japanese filmmaker who filmed one of the Ghost Dog's central texts, Rashomon.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Instinct/The Loss of Sexual Innocence/Limbo (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Ice-Cream
      (instrumental mix)

      Written by R. Diggs and C. Woods

      Produced, mixed and arranged by RZA for Wu-Tang Productions, Inc.

      Published by Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.

      On behalf of Ramecca Music and Wu-Tang Publishing (BMI)

      Featuring Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna and Raekwon

      Raekwon appears courtesy of Loud Records

    User reviews373

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Interesting and deep, but not as deep as it tries to be
    This is a great film; it has pretty much everything a great film needs: a great score, great actors, great performances, etc. The film revolves around Ghost Dog, perfectly portrayed by Forest Whitaker. He is a assassin who lives by the code of the Samurai. Apart from him, we also follow the fate of several mafia men(though nowhere near as intimately as we follow Ghost Dog). These two very different groups, Samurai and mafia, are both depicted reasonably well, giving us insight to how the groups work, and, more importantly, their code. Both groups live and die by the code, and this is probably the most important thing in the movie, and it's shown with respect with both Samurai and mafia; I'm not entirely sure that it's correct all the way through, but that's not what's most important, anyway. The film has reasonably little action, but it's not supposed to be an action film, by any means. It's fairly slow throughout the film, but it never really bores you to the point of not watching any more; I've seen the film at least five times now, so believe me, I know. The film is very stylized and cool throughout, which definitely has some part in keeping you interested, but the theme and story/plot plays a bigger part, I think. The plot is pretty good, and though it keeps a fairly slow pace throughout the film, it also keeps your interest for the entire duration of the film. The acting is all good, though not everyone pulls off as excellent a performance as Whitaker. Isaach De Bankolé portrays Ghost Dog's best friend, and he does gives a great performance. So does Camille Winbush, who portrays a girl who Ghost Dog befriends and discusses books with. The characters are well-written and(mostly) credible. I'm not entirely sure that the film does provide a totally correct version of the Code of the Samurai. The soundtrack is great; it's made by the hip-hop artist RZA, but most of it will be enjoyable to people who aren't into hip-hop. Also, I guess it's more of a score than a soundtrack; there isn't any time where the music feels out of place in a scene. All in all, a great film, but not for all tastes. Don't go in expecting an action film; don't go in expecting a very deep an entirely intellectual film; don't go in expecting a regular movie; go in expecting to see a decent(if not good) representation of both the mafia code and the Samurai code. I've heard some people describe the ending as an anti-climax; I don't know what they were expecting... I won't say that I saw it coming, but I wasn't disappointed when it happened. It had to end it, and I think the director, Jim Jarmusch made a good decision on that. I recommend this film to people with an interest in Samurai, fans of Jarmusch and people looking for a reasonably deep film. I don't recommend this to fans of action movies, as there's fairly little action in the film. No matter who you are, if you're going to see this film, make sure you have the patience for it; it's worth sitting through the two reasonably slow hours for. 8/10
    helpful•45
    25
    • TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
    • Jun 23, 2004

    FAQ1

    • What are the quotations from "The Book of the Samurai" in the order in which they appear in the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 3, 2000 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Germany
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Ghost Dog - Samuraiden tapaan
    • Filming locations
      • New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Pandora Filmproduktion
      • ARD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland)
      • ARD Degeto Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,308,029
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $166,344
      • Mar 5, 2000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,380,473
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Forest Whitaker to receive honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes
    May 5ScreenDaily
    Forest Whitaker to Receive Cannes Film Festival’s Honorary Palme d’Or Award
    Forest Whitaker to Receive Cannes Film Festival’s Honorary Palme d’Or Award
    May 5Variety Film + TV

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