Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

In one of his defining roles, Forest Whitaker brings a commanding serenity to his portrayal of a Zen contract killer working for a bumbling mob outfit while trying to adhere to the code outlined in the book of Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s recorded sayings, Hagakure.

Featuring cinematography by Robby Müller (Paris, Texas) and a mesmerizing score by the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, director Jim Jarmusch combines his love for Jean-Pierre Melville (Le Samouraï) and Seijun Suzuki (Branded to Kill) with samurai mythology for an eccentrically postmodern take on the hit-man thriller.