Okay, so I have been wanting to jot down this one for some time now. I like Forest Whitaker. I’ve written about his finest performances, and I’ll see just about something he is in.
Which I believe is essential to notice, since there are some movies of his that simply appear to be they would not work on paper. Like, say, the movie the place he performs a samurai hitman who waxes philosophical about Bushido.
Should you’ve already seen the film, then I am speaking in regards to the 1999 cult basic, Ghost Canine: The Method of the Samurai. It is my favourite Forest Whitaker film by far, and I’ve 5 the reason why.
First Off, It Is The Strangest, Most Weird “Motion” Film You Will Most likely Ever See
In quite a lot of methods, I’m a bit reluctant to name Ghost Canine an “motion film.” It’s usually labeled as a “crime drama movie,” and okay. I get that. I positively wouldn’t put it in the identical class as a Rambo or a Predator. However, in the identical approach that I might think about most samurai films as motion flicks, I’d additionally embody Ghost Canine in that class.
In actual fact, that’s what makes Ghost Canine so distinctive. It’s each an excellent, modern-day samurai film, but additionally a powerful gangster flick. There’s nothing else prefer it.
The story issues a mafia hitman who follows the best way of the samurai. He chills out on a rooftop and communicates by way of provider pigeons. When he will get an project, he pulls it off with effectivity, but additionally badassness. For instance, when he goes on a mission to kill a Made Man, he kills all of his males within the dopest approach potential, together with his actions trying as if he’s in double pace.
When he trains on a rooftop together with his sword, it’s just about the good factor ever, as he strikes so rapidly, that it nearly appears to be like like he’s shadowboxing quite than swinging his blade.
In each approach, the motion in Ghost Canine is completely thrilling, and it’s all blended collectively on this weird story with Forest Whitaker portraying a samurai, which sounds completely ludicrous, I do know. That stated…
The Thought Of Forest Whitaker As A Trendy Day Samurai Appears Ridiculous At First. Till You Watch The Movie
I keep in mind when Ghost Canine first got here out in theaters. Because it was 1999, which is commonly thought of one of many biggest years in cinema, I spent most of my time being fascinated by films like Combat Membership, or enthralled by the phenomenon that was The Blair Witch Venture. So, I didn’t catch nice films like Ghost Canine, or the incredible The Proficient Mr. Ripley within the cineplex.
No, as an alternative, I picked it up at good outdated Blockbuster Video, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Even the field artwork made me snicker. It’s fairly bland, because it simply options Forest Whitaker sporting a hood, however there’s additionally a blue, ethereal glow round him, and the title, Ghost Canine: The Method of the Samurai, with the tagline studying, “Stay by the code. Die by the code.”
Now, I used to be properly conscious of Forest Whitaker by the early 2000s. I knew him from flicks like Platoon, Species, and Phenomenon, and it needed to be round 2006 after I lastly watched Ghost Canine, so I had additionally seen him in Telephone Sales space, Panic Room, and the turkey that was Battlefield Earth. So, one factor I knew with certainty was that Forest Whitaker was no samurai.
However then, I watched Ghost Canine, and all I might suppose was, holy crap, he truly pulled it off.
As a result of Ghost Canine as a personality shouldn’t be your conventional samurai, and Ghost Canine as a film shouldn’t be your conventional samurai film. It positively feels city, and Ghost Canine himself looks like each a product of his atmosphere, but additionally fully indifferent from it, which makes him tremendous distinctive as a personality. It’s a efficiency the place you completely imagine that he believes he’s a samurai, and actually, that’s sufficient.
The mafia round him is each perplexed by him, but additionally surprisingly accepting of his existence. It’s a film that wouldn’t work if the tone wasn’t excellent, and someway, it’s. That stated, I believe quite a lot of that has to do with the soundtrack, which I’ll get into subsequent.
The Soundtrack By The RZA Is A Hidden Gem
I’m a MASSIVE fan of the Wu-Tang Clan, and RZA specifically. By the 2000s, I used to be deeply entrenched in every thing Wu-related, so I wasn’t simply shopping for the Wu albums that featured the Clan, but additionally Wu facet initiatives, like Killarmy, Sunz of Man, Gravediggaz, and La the Darkman. Simply to call a couple of!
So, when the RZA-produced Ghost Canine soundtrack got here out, I simply needed to have it. In actual fact, I heard the soundtrack lengthy earlier than I truly watched the film. And, man, let me let you know. Should you’re a Wu-head like myself, then the Ghost Canine soundtrack is important listening.
There are a number of bangers on this album, and it’s all interlaced with traces from the movie.
I knew the Ghost Canine soundtrack from entrance to again, however the best way it’s built-in within the film itself is kind of fascinating. Quite a lot of the beats happen within the movie separated from the lyrics, however the motion is punctuated the place the lyrics would go, which is a singular strategy.
Not solely that, however rap tradition performs an enormous half within the story, with among the gangsters even rapping at occasions, like a cool scene the place Ghost Canine shoots a person by way of his sink.
In each approach, RZA’s soundtrack makes this weird world appear considerably credible, which isn’t any small feat.
There Is Genuinely Glorious Knowledge In This Film
All through the movie, Ghost Canine usually quotes traces from Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s e-book, Hagakure. Now, at first, I assumed this was completely ridiculous, given the best way he delivers the traces. However, all through the movie, you begin to actually take heed to what he’s saying, and it’s truly actually deep stuff.
For instance, he talks about what it’s wish to be one’s personal man, however to additionally observe your grasp to the tip (which performs into the climax of the movie). There are additionally quotes on what it means to exist. Like, my favourite line in all the film is, “Our our bodies are given life from the type of nothingness,” which is kind of apparent, however I by no means actually considered life like that earlier than. It’s fairly existential.
Nonetheless, it’s adopted up by this gem: “Current the place there may be nothing is the which means of the phrase, ‘type is vacancy’. That every one issues are offered for by nothingness is the which means of the phrase, ‘Vacancy is type.’ One shouldn’t suppose that these are two separate issues.”
And, like, wow. I truly needed to pause the film and suppose upon what he was speaking about. For me to really interrogate my interior world whereas watching a film the place Forest Whitaker performs a samurai hitman is, properly, positively not what I used to be anticipating after I first popped on this film, that’s for positive.
Ghost Canine Is In contrast to Any Different Film In Jim Jarmusch Or Whitaker’s Whole Careers
Lastly, the explanation why Ghost Canine is my favourite Forest Whitaker film is as a result of it’s in contrast to something in his (Or Jim Jarmusch’s) filmography.
And, it’s not like Whitaker simply performs anyone position. He was a powerhouse in The Final King of Scotland as Idi Amin, and was simply as intimidating as Noticed Gerrera in my favourite Star Wars film, Rogue One.
Nonetheless, whereas Whitaker has a reasonably numerous resume (despite the fact that he does appear to play quite a lot of cops), there may be nonetheless nothing like Ghost Canine in his record of movies. It stands out as a singular work by a legendary performer, and the truth that Jim Jarmusch additionally doesn’t have the rest prefer it in his filmography is simply icing on the cake.
Jarmusch is one in all our most fascinating filmmakers, and that is in all probability his weirdest (and most fantastic) movie, which is de facto saying one thing from the person who directed Lifeless Man.
And, that’s the record. Should you haven’t seen Ghost Canine but, please achieve this. It’s one in all a form!