Ghost Dog...really?

Quickview

Overall: 2.5 Turkey Claws

Direction: 2.5 Turkey Claws

Screenplay:2.5 Turkey Claws

Acting: 4 Turkey Claws

When I saw that this was one of the first movies I was to review, I found myself laughing. The laughter grew harder when I realized it was the “good” movie. When I first thought of getting some people together to review movies as a group it was because I wanted to share with others one of my favorite movies of all time; a precious little gem called “The Twilight Samurai”. When the idea was posed to do one bad movie and one good movie, I knew I had my good movie. But what to pair it with? Well, the answer should be obvious. I decided on Ghost Dog.- a horrible movie you can’t seem to look away from.

I have noticed a trend with my personal movie taste throughout the years. A movie I watched when I was younger and absolutely worshiped, years later I realized was total crap (Surf Ninjas, Ace Ventura, and The Three Musketeers to name a few). Likewise, movies I hated I grew to love (Goodfellas, 12 Angry Men, Rocky). So I was hopeful that even though I had seen, and disliked, Ghost Dog twice before, I would like it now. It has been like three years, right?

Turns out my feelings for this particular film have not changed. I was able to appreciate the acting a bit more this time (Forrest Whittaker is on my top ten best actors of all time list). However, I have always hated the movies of Jim Jarmuscsh. He is on another list I have of the most overrated directors of all time. His best movie, Coffee and Cigarettes, is only watchable in segments (which is why I feel it was shot that way). This movie is a masochist’s dream.

Cardboard cut-out characters, sloppy cinematography, weak-kneed writing, and a crazy Doc Emmet Brown haired director create a cacophony of insanity that is reminiscent of a 1^st year film students “pet project”. A great film title and a great cast cannot compensate the film’s many flaws.

At best, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a one time rental (best watched with the influence of a good beer or seven). At worst...well, at worst you have to endure it three times stone cold sober...

Breakdown:

Direction: I may have been subtle previously, so allow me to be blunt. I do not like Jim Jarmusch. I feel that a lot of the action in the movie was choppy and hastily assembled. Many of the visuals and shots seemed to be “point and shoot” as opposed to taking his time to set up the best visual and cleanest shot. He did a good job choosing an ensemble cast, and the sets looked distinct and fit the mood (all real venues instead of being shot on a sound stage, but they looked unique and not generic or bland – which is a major plus).

Screenplay: The characters in Ghost Dog were unimaginative sterotypes common in every gangster film. Even the only two interesting characters, the title character and Raymond were sterotypes (albeit they were well done). I understand that the theme of the movie does call for them, but the “Family Men” could have been better done (a la the Godfather, Casino, or the Soprano’s). The dialogue was weak as well. However, I will warrant you that the scenes with Ramon and Mr. Dog were extremely well done.

Acting: The acting was the best part of the movie. The actors worked well with what they were given, and it is no surprise why Forrest Whittaker gained popularity after this movie came out. Not many fat black men could swing a sword around while wearing a hoodie and still be believable. But dammit, he did.

Overall: I would say I’m not a fan of this movie. Nor will I never watch it again. But don’t get me wrong, there were some good element. The sets, the acting, and the soundtrack were all good. And I am not a fan of movie’s with a soundtrack as opposed to an actual musical score, but this movie pulled it off well. Though not my exact brand of music, it did fit to push the theme and tone of the movie nicely.