Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

January 14, 2023
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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)    Listen Movie Details
Happiness Meter
7.324/10 73%
Average of Ratings
75%
World Popularity
1%
Internet Movie Database
75%
Rotten Tomatoes
83%
Metacritic
67%
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Movie basic details

Current status - Released
Total runtime - 116 mins.
Release date - 02-06-1999
Release year - 1999
Genres - Crime, Drama

Overall ratings and scores for Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai:
Happiness Score - 7.324/10, World Popularity Score - 9.912/100, IMDB Score - 7.5, Metascore - 67, Internet Movie Database - 7.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes - 83%, Metacritic - 67/100, .
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai movie has Total Global Votes - 935, Total IMD Votes - 91,843

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Movie Introduction: Movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, release year 1999 is written by Jim Jarmusch and directed by Jim Jarmusch. The leading star-cast in this movie are Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey along with the other stars and crew members.

Trailers, Clips, Featurettes and Behind the Scenes


Ghost Dog (1999) Original Trailer [HD]

Movie overview and plot by

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

Movie story-line: An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of old finds himself targeted for death by the mob. Jarmusch's spiritual gangster film tells the story of an inner-city hit man (Whitaker) who lives on a rooftop, training himself as a samurai in the strictest sense. He communicates primarily by carrier pigeon, while remaining loyal to a gangster (Tormey) who once saved his life.

Movie synopsis: 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.

Highlights - Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Total budget - $2,000,000.00
Total revenue - $9,400,000.00
Produced by - Canal+Pandora FilmJVCBac FilmsDegeto FilmPlywood Productions
Produced in - GermanyUnited States of AmericaFranceJapan
Available languages - English (English),
Homepage URL -
Awards won / Nominations - 1 win & 8 nominations
Certificate(s) - GB : 15 GR : 16 ES : 12 FR : U

Lead Actors, Writer(s), Director(s) of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Lead Actors - Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey
Writer(s) - Jim Jarmusch
Director(s) - Jim Jarmusch

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) about Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

What is the release date of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)?
Release date of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is 02-06-1999.


What is the total runtime of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) in minutes?
Total runtime of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) in minutes is 116 min.


What is the budget consumed to produce Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) movie?
The budget consumed to produce Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) movie is around $2,000,000.00.


How much revenue is expected from movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)?
Expected revenue from movie movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is around $9,400,000.00.


What is the pupularity of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)?
Worldwide pupularity of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) movie is 9.912%.


What is the name of the production company of film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)?
Production company of film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is/are Canal+, Pandora Film, JVC, Bac Films, Degeto Film, Plywood Productions, .


Which country the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is produced in?
Film production country for the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is Germany, United States of America, France, Japan, .


Which language the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is produced in?
Film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is produced in English (English), language(s).


Which Genre the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) belongs to?
Movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is categorized under Crime, Drama genre(s).


Who are the lead actors of the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)?
Lead actors of the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) are Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey.


Who is the writer of the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)?
The writer(s) of the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is/are Jim Jarmusch.


Who is the director of the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)?
The director(s) of the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is/are Jim Jarmusch.


Which awards, nominations and recognitions are won by Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) movie?
Movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) has 1 win & 8 nominations awards and nomination in it's profile.


What is the story of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) in-short?
Short plot of movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999): An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of old finds himself targeted for death by the mob..


What is the full story of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) movie?
Full plot of movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999): 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..


Where to find full details of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) movie?
You can find the full details of movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165798


Where to stream or watch movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) online?
You can stream or watch online movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) on Amazon Prime Video, UPC TV, SBS On Demand, Criterion Channel, Filmin, Bbox VOD, Amazon Video, Universcine Amazon Channel, Netflix basic with Ads, wavve, Ivi, HBO Max, .


List of full Starcast and crew members of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Full Starcast:

profie photo of Forest WhitakerName: Forest Whitaker
Character: Ghost Dog

profie photo of John TormeyName: John Tormey
Character: Louie

profie photo of Cliff GormanName: Cliff Gorman
Character: Sonny Valerio

profie photo of Henry SilvaName: Henry Silva
Character: Ray Vargo

profie photo of Isaach De BankoléName: Isaach De Bankolé
Character: Raymond

profie photo of Tricia VesseyName: Tricia Vessey
Character: Louise Vargo

profie photo of Victor ArgoName: Victor Argo
Character: Vinny

profie photo of Gene RuffiniName: Gene Ruffini
Character: Old Consigliere

profie photo of Richard PortnowName: Richard Portnow
Character: Handsome Frank

profie photo of Camille WinbushName: Camille Winbush
Character: Pearline

profie photo of Dennis LiuName: Dennis Liu
Character: Chinese Restaurant Owner

profie photo of Frank MinucciName: Frank Minucci
Character: Big Angie

profie photo of Frank AdonisName: Frank Adonis
Character: Valerio's Bodyguard

profie photo of Damon WhitakerName: Damon Whitaker
Character: Young Ghost Dog

profie photo of Kenny GuayName: Kenny Guay
Character: Boy in Window

profie photo of Vince ViveritoName: Vince Viverito
Character: Johnny Morini

profie photo of Gano GrillsName: Gano Grills
Character: Gangsta in Red

profie photo of Touché CornelName: Touché Cornel
Character: Gangsta in Red

profie photo of Jamie HectorName: Jamie Hector
Character: Gangsta in Red

profie photo of Chuck JeffreysName: Chuck Jeffreys
Character: Mugger

profie photo of Yan Ming ShiName: Yan Ming Shi
Character: Kung Fu Master

profie photo of Joseph RiganoName: Joseph Rigano
Character: Joe Rags

profie photo of Roberto LopezName: Roberto Lopez
Character: Punk in Alley

profie photo of Salvatore AlagnaName: Salvatore Alagna
Character: Punk in Alley

profie photo of Jerry TodiscoName: Jerry Todisco
Character: Punk in Alley

profie photo of Dreddy KrugerName: Dreddy Kruger
Character: Rapper in Blue

profie photo of Timbo KingName: Timbo King
Character: Rapper in Blue

profie photo of Clay, Da, RaiderName: Clay, Da, Raider
Character: Rapper in Blue

profie photo of Dead and StinkingName: Dead and Stinking
Character: Rapper in Blue

profie photo of Deflon SallahrName: Deflon Sallahr
Character: Rapper in Blue

profie photo of Gary FarmerName: Gary Farmer
Character: Nobody

profie photo of Clebert FordName: Clebert Ford
Character: Pigeonkeeper

profie photo of José RabeloName: José Rabelo
Character: Rooftop Boatbuilder

profie photo of Jerry SturianoName: Jerry Sturiano
Character: Lefty

profie photo of Tony RigoName: Tony Rigo
Character: Tony

profie photo of Alfred NittoliName: Alfred Nittoli
Character: Al

profie photo of Angel CabanName: Angel Caban
Character: Social Club Landlord

profie photo of Luz ValentinName: Luz Valentin
Character: Girl in Silver

profie photo of Renee BluestoneName: Renee Bluestone
Character: Club Couple

profie photo of Jordan PeckName: Jordan Peck
Character: Club Couple

profie photo of Jonathan Teague CookName: Jonathan Teague Cook
Character: Bear Hunter

profie photo of Tracy HoweName: Tracy Howe
Character: Bear Hunter

profie photo of Vanessa HollingsheadName: Vanessa Hollingshead
Character: Female Sheriff

profie photo of Sharon AngelaName: Sharon Angela
Character: Blonde with Jaguar

profie photo of RZAName: RZA
Character: Samurai in Camouflage

profie photo of Vinny VellaName: Vinny Vella
Character: Sammy the Snake

Crew Members:

profie photo of Robby MüllerName: Robby Müller
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Director of Photography

profie photo of Jay RabinowitzName: Jay Rabinowitz
Department: Editing
Job/Role: Editor

profie photo of Ellen LewisName: Ellen Lewis
Department: Production
Job/Role: Casting

profie photo of Jim JarmuschName: Jim Jarmusch
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Director

profie photo of Jim JarmuschName: Jim Jarmusch
Department: Production
Job/Role: Producer

profie photo of Jim JarmuschName: Jim Jarmusch
Department: Writing
Job/Role: Writer

profie photo of Anthony J. Ciccolini IIIName: Anthony J. Ciccolini III
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Sound Designer

profie photo of Anthony J. Ciccolini IIIName: Anthony J. Ciccolini III
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Sound Effects Editor

profie photo of RZAName: RZA
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Original Music Composer

profie photo of Laura RosenthalName: Laura Rosenthal
Department: Production
Job/Role: Casting

profie photo of Ted BernerName: Ted Berner
Department: Art
Job/Role: Production Design

profie photo of Neal MartzName: Neal Martz
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Special Effects Makeup Artist

profie photo of John DunnName: John Dunn
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Costume Design

profie photo of Mario VentenillaName: Mario Ventenilla
Department: Art
Job/Role: Art Direction

profie photo of Richard GuayName: Richard Guay
Department: Production
Job/Role: Producer

profie photo of Ron von BlombergName: Ron von Blomberg
Department: Art
Job/Role: Set Decoration

profie photo of Chiemi KarasawaName: Chiemi Karasawa
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Script Supervisor

profie photo of Christopher PorterName: Christopher Porter
Department: Lighting
Job/Role: Chief Lighting Technician

profie photo of Drew JiritanoName: Drew Jiritano
Department: Crew
Job/Role: Special Effects Coordinator

profie photo of Victor De JesusName: Victor De Jesus
Department: Production
Job/Role: Production Supervisor

profie photo of Todd KleitschName: Todd Kleitsch
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Special Effects Makeup Artist

profie photo of Jeff ButcherName: Jeff Butcher
Department: Art
Job/Role: Property Master

profie photo of Drew KuninName: Drew Kunin
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Sound Mixer

profie photo of Dominick TavellaName: Dominick Tavella
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Sound Re-Recording Mixer

profie photo of Judy ChinName: Judy Chin
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Makeup Artist

profie photo of Mark SchwentnerName: Mark Schwentner
Department: Lighting
Job/Role: Gaffer

profie photo of Rick RaphaelName: Rick Raphael
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Steadicam Operator

profie photo of Josh SteinbergName: Josh Steinberg
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Grip

profie photo of Daniel PaganName: Daniel Pagan
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Sound Effects Editor

profie photo of Michael J. MaurerName: Michael J. Maurer
Department: Lighting
Job/Role: Electrician

profie photo of Jon DelgadoName: Jon Delgado
Department: Lighting
Job/Role: Electrician

profie photo of Abbot GenserName: Abbot Genser
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Still Photographer

profie photo of Scott MaguireName: Scott Maguire
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Camera Loader

profie photo of Philip Saccio Jr.Name: Philip Saccio Jr.
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: On Set Dresser

profie photo of Chaim KantorName: Chaim Kantor
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Camera Operator

profie photo of Clifford BookerName: Clifford Booker
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Hairstylist

profie photo of Francesca CobacoName: Francesca Cobaco
Department: Lighting
Job/Role: Electrician

profie photo of Gary MartoneName: Gary Martone
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Key Grip

profie photo of Tally MorseName: Tally Morse
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Dolly Grip

profie photo of Rick MarroquinName: Rick Marroquin
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Dolly Grip

profie photo of Ray FlynnName: Ray Flynn
Department: Lighting
Job/Role: Best Boy Electric

profie photo of Diana SchmidtName: Diana Schmidt
Department: Production
Job/Role: Unit Production Manager

profie photo of Diana SchmidtName: Diana Schmidt
Department: Production
Job/Role: Co-Producer

profie photo of Shirley BelwoodName: Shirley Belwood
Department: Art
Job/Role: Assistant Property Master

profie photo of Jeanne GillilandName: Jeanne Gilliland
Department: Crew
Job/Role: Cableman

profie photo of Nathalie CassegrainName: Nathalie Cassegrain
Department: Art
Job/Role: Art Department Coordinator

profie photo of Chris BeattieName: Chris Beattie
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Grip

profie photo of Kevin MeehanName: Kevin Meehan
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Boom Operator

profie photo of Pedro HernandezName: Pedro Hernandez
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Best Boy Grip

profie photo of Katherine M. ButlerName: Katherine M. Butler
Department: Camera
Job/Role: First Assistant Camera

profie photo of Lonnie KandelName: Lonnie Kandel
Department: Production
Job/Role: Production Supervisor

profie photo of Douglas C. HartName: Douglas C. Hart
Department: Camera
Job/Role: First Assistant Camera

profie photo of Jude GorjancName: Jude Gorjanc
Department: Directing
Job/Role: First Assistant Director

profie photo of Cindy CraigName: Cindy Craig
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Second Assistant Director

profie photo of Jessica PiscitelliName: Jessica Piscitelli
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Second Second Assistant Director

profie photo of Christian CarmodyName: Christian Carmody
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Second Assistant Camera

profie photo of Sean O'BrienName: Sean O'Brien
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Grip

profie photo of Tim KellyName: Tim Kelly
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Grip

profie photo of John FurniotisName: John Furniotis
Department: Visual Effects
Job/Role: Visual Effects

profie photo of Don NolanName: Don Nolan
Department: Visual Effects
Job/Role: Visual Effects

Movie Posters and Wallapapers - Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

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Reviews Section

rated 3.5 out of 5
June 23, 2021

The eponymous protagonist of Jim Jarmusch's 1999 film GHOST DOG is an African-American hitman (Forest Whitaker) working for an Italian mafia in New Jersey and living according to the Hagakure, Japan's samurai code. After a hit goes wrong through no fault of the assassin's own, his mafia liaison Louie (John Tormey) is sympathetic, but explains that his superiors now want Ghost Dog dead. The film follows Ghost Dog's revenge and depicts a clash between two ancient tribes that both seem out of date in this modern world: Ghost Dog's samurai code and Italian mafia ideas of loyalty. Jarmusch has always been open about the fact that he soaks up a huge number of inspirations from earlier films, books, and music and then lets them reflect in his own work. Any cinephile will instantly recognize Jean-Pierre Melville's 1967 film Le Samouraï as the point of departure for GHOST DOG. In Meville's classic, a Parisian hired assassin lives according to a strict code. But Melville didn't really know much about Japan, and even the quotation from a samurai text at the beginning of his film was just made up by Meville himself. Jarmusch seems to have decided, "OK, I'll show you a hired-assassin film that's *really* rooted in the code of the Samurai". Forest Whitaker quotes from Hagakure throughout the film, and there are also references to the work of Akira Kurosawa. But GHOST DOG is not a remake, and Jarmusch takes the basic premise in a very individual direction. There's a lot of humour here, something missing from the serious Melville inspiration. In casting for the mafia dons, Jarmusch chose faces as brutal and distinctive as Dick Tracy's rogues gallery: Henry Silva as the don, and Cliff Gorman and Gene Ruffini as his righthand men. But Jarmusch then gives them the occasional zany line that cracks that chilling façade. Isaach de Bankole plays a supporting role as a French-speaking Haitian immigrant and Ghost Dog's best friend, a role that is pure comic relief because the man doesn't speak English and Ghost Dog doesn't understand French, but they always manage to understand each other. Until the late 1990s, Jarmusch had mainly been known as a fairly low-budget independent filmmaker writing cute little stories about personal relationships in low-key American life. Jarmusch's America was consistently depicted as run-down neighbourhoods and overgrown vacant lots. With its generous budget, large cast and special effects, GHOST DOG marked a huge leap forward in Jarmusch's work. Still, it maintains Jarmusch's interest in America as a land of urban blight and seedy underbellies: most of the film takes place in an ugly New Jersey urban setting. Furthermore, instead of being glamorized, the Italian mafia is depicted as a spent force, mainly elderly men who can't rake in the cash and influence they used to, and even forced to pay protection money to Chinese newcomers. As the film reaches its shocking ending, the glamour is drained from Ghost Dog's warrior code, as well. The music for GHOST DOG was provided by RZA, at the time still best known as part of the Wu-Tang Clan. The music mainly consists of wordless beats, though, with actual rapping only at a few points. Personally, I find the use of hip-hop a weak point of the film (Jarmusch looks like an outsider looking in to this scene, unable to organically make it part of his own work), and RZA's insistence on appearing in the film itself disrupts the rhythm of the film's climax.


-- CRCulver

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