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.

Gama No Abura (2009)

Up until now the best film I've visited in the cinemas this year. It's the first movie directed by Kôji Yakusho, known as an actor. Yakusho must like style, for the fact that most of the caps I've selected from this film subjects his character (young and old) or his belongings.

The character played by Yakusho, Takuro, is a stock investor and sits behind his desk checking stocking quotes all day. His office is probably the nicest one I've ever seen: eight fully equipped iMac's (with the black backsides) and a corner with targets to hit with all the imaginable toy guns available. Then he continuously wears his khaki colored chino's, the fine leather jacket and completed with, not sure though, Red Wing 8181's and his Australian Akubra hat. And even when not at home, he makes sure to bring along his three MacBook Pro's in his trailer. And have a look at the Takuro character as a kiddo, he knows how to look cool and get at places he shouldn't be. Just superb. This film is highly recommended - and not only for style.

Soleil Rouge (1971)

Still Stile is dedicated to style in cinema. It's focus is primary on men's style consisting of clothing and accessories like hats, ties, gloves, glasses and watches. To broaden this framework I will add to it other style attributes like cars, cigarettes, guns, facial expressions, movements and postures.

The discussion to whether style is subject to subjectivity will always continue, the same as there is on paintings and other art forms. For me the over-quoted quote by Coco Chanel: "Fashion fades, only style remains the same" is very pertinent. Although I think style is still very socially constructed and therefore interconnected with economic status and culture. So I think style can be divided in different ranges and it's my intent to cover them all. Ten still images from one feature-length film a week.

I will start off with a first series of still images captured from the 1971 western Soleil Rouge directed by Terence Young, famous for directing the first James Bond movie Dr. No. A feature-length film with a blend of American (Charles Bronson), French (Alain Delon) and Japanese actors. Western styles, Americana looks and of course the iconic Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune in his classical samurai outfit. Enjoy.