Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Jim Jarmusch is one of these contemporary directors that know how to portray coolness in a very sophisticated way. Like Wes Anderson, but in a significant different design, although their mixing of the serious and comic genres with a high sense of dry humor are very similar.

I already featured some samurai in the traditional fashion. But with Ghost Dog Jarmusch choose to portray a samurai in the present, utterly well played by Forest Withaker. A quiet figure, very decent and dedicated, plus he's got some fantastic items and uses of things. A secret compartment in his wooden floor with a secretly situated key, the self-made boombox out of wood and car hi-fi, his communicating by carrier pigeon and the glossy dark-blue suit. Lots of shoe styles are found either, from the all red Nike Low Air Force Ones as the Reebok Pumps to classic American footwear like L.L. Beans (not featured) and the Red Wings worn by Isaach de Bankolé. Not unexpectedly, because of his love for ancient Asian practices, the RZA made the soundtrack for the movie.

Dalkomhan Insaeng (2005)

The best Korean gangster epos there is. Not a lot of styles on menswear in this weeks choice; A Bittersweet Life is all about cinematographic style.

The cinematography in Dalkomhan Insaeng is pure art, beautiful shots are put together by very smooth camera motion. Ji-Woo Kim has got an eye for composition, the decors - especially the interiors - and lots of very cool items. Have a look at the fully automatic penholder aside the lighter at the desk and the antique hourglass on the table. But what really makes the film is Byung-Hun Lee, by far the best Korean actor out there, in his black and white suit showing off incredible Taekwondo skills. Since it's a gangster film there's a lot of mean looks to be found on the character's faces. And I shouldn't forget to mention the great cello soundtrack.

Public Enemies (2009)

The aspect of cinema that keeps me fascinated is the visual appearance of characters. Where in books a character is described with words and lots of visual meaning is added by the reader, in film this description is fully given through images including facial features, clothing and movements. Because of that characters will always be ideal - just like the marble sculptures from the ancient Greeks. They are played by the best looking actors/actresses and look like they just took a shower after visiting the hairdresser and got themselves some crispy new clothes. You never see the average joe from the around the block. Please note I need to generalize here. And it's even more interesting if the film is historic or based on a true story, since there are facts on the original story and perhaps some pictures available.

As is with Public Enemies, which is all about John Dillinger. John Dillinger has had the luck to be played by John Depp II. If you've never seen any picture of the real John you would think that he was the most stylish guy in every State of America at the time. Don't get me wrong, Dillinger wasn't under dressed but Depp simply manages to portray a character that's the only remembrance you have afterwards. Enough. Other details in the film are almost as impressing. As for the heavy cotton prisoner outfits, the tweed coat with the blocked pattern, the dashboard of an old 1920's Ford model and all the different hat styles (including the prison one!).