Owen’s Oldies: ‘Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai’
- Owen Glancy
- Apr 18
- 3 min read
By Owen Glancy Arts & Features Editor To anyone who regularly reads this column, it should be no surprise that Japanese cinema is one of the most varied and influential in the world, with its seemingly sudden emergence onto the world stage in the 1950s influencing dozens of future filmmakers in the 1980s and ’90s. One of these filmmakers was Jim Jarmusch, an American independent filmmaker who alongside contemporaries like John Cassavetes and Wes Craven took American cinema in a bold new direction with their unique directorial styles that were uninhibited by the rigid studio system. However, unlike his fellow filmmakers of the time, Jarmusch made films that were far more laid-back and relaxed, with many associated with the likes of Yasujiro Ozu rather than someone like Akira Kurosawa. This was until the release of “Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai” in 1999. By this point in his career, Jarmusch had already established himself as a successful filmmaker, having made masterpieces like “Down by Law,” “Mystery Train,” and “Night on Earth.” However, these films are all fairly similar to each other. They all feature large casts, multiple main characters, and a higher emphasis on dialogue and the fascinating in the ordinary. Even in “Down by Law,” a prison break film, this “chill” atmosphere is always in place. “Ghost Dog” does still have plenty of laid-back scenes, but it is otherwise Jarmusch’s most intense and action-packed film. Taking influence not just from samurai films, but also from mafia movies, “Ghost Dog” is a delicate balancing act of blending influences from different cultures and films from all over the world. Maintaining this balance can be incredibly difficult, as leaning too far into one particular influence could block out the others and distort the auteur’s voice and muddy the viewing experience. Thankfully, Jarmusch walks this act brilliantly due entirely to his mastery over pacing. Despite most of this film dealing with darker subject matters, Jarmusch knows exactly when to pull back. This “pulling back” both helps to humanize the characters as well as allow each individual influence to breathe. The plot is influenced by mafia and samurai-revenge films, the characters all fit into Jarmusch's chill vibe, and the setting is undeniably influenced by the Black-American filmmakers of the early ’70s. By occasionally having a character-focused scene that takes a break from the plot, it allows the film’s Black influences and Jarmusch’s usual trappings to shine. By having a more intense and personal plot that focuses on themes of loyalty and “old vs new,” it allows the samurai and mafia influences to shine. But a film cannot live entirely on its influences - they must serve as a foundation not the entire work. In this regard, “Ghost Dog” brings many fresh new ideas to both genres. The titular character Ghost Dog is obsessed with the “way of the samurai,” an obsession that becomes frighteningly real when it influences him to serve as the “vassal” of a mafia member named Louie, who saved his life when he was younger. Ghost Dog lives by a code, but it’s one that is horribly against the times. He sends messages by carrier pigeon, unsheathes his guns as if they’re katanas, and is frighteningly loyal to his “master.” While noble, it’s clear that the rapidly changing world is going to swallow Ghost Dog whole as he desperately fights against the tides of time. This fight against time is one that the mafia group Louie belongs to takes up as well. They are almost cartoonish depictions of the mob, feeding into every stereotype created by films like “The Godfather” and “Scarface.” However this playing into stereotypes is implied to be something they do on purpose. The bosses are old men who are plagued by their outdated world views, with one being a racist and the other being obsessed with children’s cartoons from the early 1900s. While one of the three does seem ahead of the times, listening to hip hop artists such as Public Enemy, his actions often scream “old-fashioned.” In Ghost Dog’s quest for revenge, he and Louie have to come to terms with the fact that the world is rapidly changing around them. This battle against a changing world is not only what makes the film so interesting, but also what makes it so relevant today. In the ever-changing climate of the modern world, it’s a good idea to take a breath, and just chill.
