Director: Jim Jarmusch ("Mystery Train", "Dead Man") Producer: Richard Guay, Jim Jarmusch, Diana Schmidt Writer: Jim Jarmusch Director of Photography: Robby Müller Music: RZA Forest Whitaker: Ghost Dog John Tormey: Louie Cliff Gorman: Sonny Valerio Henry Silva: Ray Vargo Isaach De Bankolé: Raymond Tricia Vessey: Louise Vargo Victor Argo: Vinny Gene Ruffini: Old Consigliere Richard Portnow: Handsome Frank Camille Winbush: Pearline

I enjoyed this film immensely. It had all the essential Jarmusch ingredients - a very strange story line too whacky to even attempt to understand, but probably at its core dealing with the demise of ancient culture and rituals. On one hand that of the ancient codes of the Japanese warrior Samurai and, on the other, the Italian mafia in America.

Forrest Whitaker plays Ghost Dog, a hitman who is renowned for his stealth and ghost-like ability to disappear. Ghost Dog practices the ancient Japanese philosophy of the Samurai, lives the life of a recluse and uses carrier pigeon's to communicate with his Italian mafia boss.

Communication is an interesting theme that seems to figure a lot in Jarmusch's films. In "Mystery Train" the Japanese characters ask Screamin' Jay Hawkins how much a room costs at the hotel he manages. When he replies that all the rooms cost the same, they tell him that is too much. In "Ghost Dog", Forrest Whitaker's best friend, Raymond (Isaach De Bankolé), is a French-African man who cannot speak a word of English. Yet they communicate very effectively - it is almost like not speaking the same language helps people communicate better.

The film depicts a fairly dismal picture of the modern day mafia in America. All of the mob members are old and frail and seem pretty pathetic as they attempt to kill people and generally be all round tough guys.

I went to "Ghost Dog" with a friend who said she didn't understand what Jarmusch was getting at. My advice is don't even try - just enjoy a truly independent film from the guy who doesn't compromise with Hollywood and gets funding for his films from the generous French and Japanese sponsors who admire his filmmaking skills.

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