PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVES

"Ghost Dog"
AN INEVITABLE END

FOREST WHITAKER plays the gunman 'Ghost Dog' who in a degenerate but contemporary world is committed to operating with the principles of the samurai. The film contains a series of samurai quotes such as…

"And every day without fail one should consider oneself as dead, this is the substance of the way of the Samurai".

For the samurai it would seem being prepared for death is a matter of priority, for death is an inevitable finish to a life that is being lived just as every story being told must have an end.

Pearline (CAMILLE WINBUSH) is the young girl who develops a friendship with Ghost Dog. Despite the age difference between the pair they discover they both like books and they share the stories they like best. At the end of the film she reads aloud from "The Way of the Samurai" (a gift from Ghost Dog) - "the end is important in all things". Considering the statement at the beginning of this film, it is not surprising that the film finishes reflecting on endings. In fact it is a pleasing conclusion to a pleasing film.

Beginnings and Endings
It makes sense that the ending relates directly to the beginning. That is the logical outcome of the impetus of a beginning … this impetus should be resolved at the end. And the ending is resolved in a very specific way in this film. Despite the violence involved it is not horrifying. Perhaps this is because another samurai truism is "Matters of great concern should be treated lightly whereas small concerns should be treated seriously." Ghost Dog treats the "great concern" which is more usually present in such endings with a "lightness" which is appropriate if eccentric. It is also unifying, for this is a film in which form and content constantly unite throughout the story, despite a fairly wacky sense of humour being ever present.

The Power of Seven Breaths
The form of FOREST WHITAKER'S performance also complements the content and theme of the story. Some critics have referred to his style as a "blank page performance" but this underestimates its potency and purpose. Slow it might be but maybe this is because a samurai "should make a decision within the space of seven breaths". If FOREST takes time to make Ghost Dog's decisions any suggestion that his performance is 'blank' or inert is misleading. It is always active and always dramatic. It is also quietly and impressively powerful. Interestingly those who refer to it as 'blank page' also found it was "just right for the film".

FOREST WHITAKER'S performance is 'just right' because it marries the director's storytelling intention with the actor's process. The outcome is impressive. A performance to be enjoyed for it's balance and purpose.

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If you would like a sample of the clear and active purpose of FOREST WHITAKER'S performance the New Your Times has some clips from the film on its Review Pages.
Go to http://www.nytimes.com/ (you need to log on as a member to gain access). Even though picture quality is not great the performer's active sense of purpose is clearly evident from the audio track alone.