Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

R

1999

1h 56m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

106 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is a contract killer, a master of his trade who can whirl a gun at warp speed and moves through this world like a phantom -- stealthy and evanescent. In the spirit of the samurai, he has pledged his loyalty to a small time mobster named Louie (John Tormey) who saved his life many years before.

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Critics Consensus

An innovative blend of samurai and gangster lifestyles.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

11/17/2023

what might sound like an ordinary gangster picture is in fact a rich amalgam of crisscrossing genres, where East meets West and culture itself follows more than one Way.

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Kambole Campbell

One Room With A View

08/25/2018

Even when aware of all the strange, disparate elements, it still surprises.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

06/24/2006

At once a tribute to traditional notions of honour, loyalty, friendship and professionalism, and a stylish, ironic pastiche inspired by the likes of Melville and Suzuki, it's very funny, insightful, and highly original.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

08/05/2024

7/10

Jarmusch, with his aesthetic density, manages to direct it with a balance that never loses its sense of irony when it questions the various cultural stereotypes that build his dialectical discourse on the master and the vassal. [Full review in Spanish]

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Jack Gross

Loud and Clear Reviews

08/03/2024

5/5

Its tone is elusive, existing somewhere between nostalgic, melancholic, resigned, and optimistic. Above all else, though, it’s truly unlike any film you’ve seen before, operating as a functional pastiche of so many great works of art.

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

11/25/2023

It almost feels like we’re in another world: Jarmusch [blurs] out everything else so the movie becomes a meditation on the impulse to moralize one’s misdoings by subscribing to rigid definitions of “honor.” [...] A bone-deep reflective masterpiece.

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Zachary K

@ZacharyKing 5d

A wonderful story of an underground book club, and the lengths people will go to in order to stop overdue late fees. Also a pretty well executed ad for time shares in japan. 7/10

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David S.

Nov 8

One of the better films I have seen in a long time, not only is it a good gangster/samurai film, but it has a simple but great story, some content warning here, but otherwise solid film, and hey, I was surprised by this one!!!

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SUNBLESSED A

Oct 30

It’s not just a film. It’s art at its best.

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A.L.Jude P

Aug 10

Heading nowhere like an european movie. What does the protagonist wants to say ?

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Austin H

Jul 12

This movie showed a mix of many ideas and cultures (hood/ Italian mafia/ samurai). Ghost follows his own unique rules and lifestyle, and is very in touch with himself. The movie is also packed with symbolism from beginning to end. It’s abstract, take what you want from the movie.

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Phil T

Jun 23

Super slow, kind of interesting and quirky but really cant recommend

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Jim Jarmusch

Director

Forest Whitaker

Ghost Dog

John Tormey

Louie

Cliff Gorman

Sonny Valerio

Henry Silva

Ray Vargo

Isaach de Bankolé

Raymond

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Cold Lampin' with Flavor

3:20

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Final Shootout

2:16

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - I'm Your Retainer

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Should I Shoot Him?

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - The Bird Man

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Bear Hunters

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Self Defense

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - The Way of the Samurai

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - I Follow a Code

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - You Want My Rolex?

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Trailer 1

1:02

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Synopsis

Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is a contract killer, a master of his trade who can whirl a gun at warp speed and moves through this world like a phantom -- stealthy and evanescent. In the spirit of the samurai, he has pledged his loyalty to a small time mobster named Louie (John Tormey) who saved his life many years before.

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Producer: Richard Guay, Jim Jarmusch
Screenwriter: Jim Jarmusch
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment
Production Co: Pandora Filmproduktion GmbH, Le Studio Canal +, Bac Films, JVC Entertainment, Degeto Film, Plywood Productions
Rating: R (Strong Violence|Language)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 18, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.3M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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