It's a story about collisions and cohesions of cultures and languages, behaviors and customs. It's also a story that makes sense on some ethereal level but not always on the practical plane. It's the kind of movie you wish you had more time to absorb and could see more than once before reviewing. For Jarmusch is like a jazz master of the movie screen, a Charlie Parker of the camera who changes registers, tempos, and tones while never losing sight of his riff.
Some chord progressions lead down blind alleys, but others lead to nirvana.
Jarmusch is also a supreme shotmaker. His compositions are vivid and rich with possibilities. His images can go from the quietude of Ghost Dog in contemplation to the swiftness of the character's actions in combat. Ghost Dog is about contradictions. This urban warrior who uses some of the top technology of his trade also communicates with his employers via carrier pigeon.