My Favorite Forest Movie (Besides Fast Times At Ridgemont High)

Okay, so admittedly I am not the biggest Forest Whitaker fan. Yes, I know people think he's a great actor, yes I know he's survived the Hollywood game for decades, and yes, I know he was supposed to be the end-all in "The Last King Of Scotland". I wish him well, but I am still unmoved. I think it's his face; it's difficult for me to concentrate while looking at it.

Anyway, one reader Saladin (who has a blog of very interesting perspectives on things), voted for "Ghost Dog-The Way Of The Samurai" for the top ten favorites. Since nothing was specified for the term "black film", I imagine it would qualify, as Forest took up most of the screen time. It was also scored by my fourth husband the RZA. The plot from IMDB is this:

In Jersey City, an African American hit man follows "Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai." He lives alone, in simplicity with homing pigeons for company, calling himself Ghost Dog. His master, who saved his life eight years ago, is part of the local mob. When the boss' daughter witnesses one of Ghost Dog's hits, he becomes expendable. The first victims are his birds, and in response, Ghost Dog goes right at his attackers but does not want to harm his master or the young woman. On occasion, he talks with his best friend, a French-speaking Haitian who sells ice cream in the park, and with a child with whom he discusses books. Can he stay true to his code? And if he does, what is his fate?

I don't remember why I saw this film, I think because I was with someone who was into it or maybe because it was directed by Jim Jarmusch. What I do know, however, is that I was really surprised at how much I loved it. It reminded me of the old Kurosawa films where there was barely any dialogue at all for long stretches of time, but to add more would have ruined it. Forest was actually believable in a premise that sounds ridiculous, but was beautifully executed. It is a thinking person's modern urban martial arts film.....rent it if for nothing else but to see Forest working his samurai moves.