A body washes up onshore not far from the Martha’s Vineyard hideaway of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan).
The death of Lang’s ghost writer is just one of the mysteries that weave through The Ghost Writer, a moody political thriller from 76-year-old Director Roman Polanski.
Ewan McGregor (known only as The Ghost) plays the new writer hired to enliven Lang’s stale memoir. As he reads through the manuscript, The Ghost discovers secrets that do not fit with Lang’s tidy life story.
International controversy erupts as Lang is accused of the kidnap and torture of terrorism suspects. To its credit, the film does not choose a side. It simply tells the tale, alternating growing suspense with droll moments of comedy.
Real-life parallels become apparent in this atmospheric gem based on the bestseller by Robert Harris. Lang’s exile could be likened to Polanski’s own exile from the U.S. for statutory rape charges some 30 years ago. Lang bears some resemblance to former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The screenplay written by Polanski and Harris alludes to the prime minister’s relationship with the White House regarding the conflict in Iraq.
Each actor exudes an air of mystery and suspicion, from Lang’s assistant and mistress Amelia (curvaceous Kim Cattrall) to his cook and bodyguards. Brosnan renders the vain, peevish yet distinguished former leader.
McGregor is at the top of his form, a shallow everyman who rises to the moment. Olivia Williams is satisfyingly outraged as Lang’s long-suffering wife. Tom Wilkinson is the circumspect Professor Paul Emmett. Timothy Hutton evokes so much despite so little screen time as Lang’s shady attorney. James Belushi plays an obnoxious publishing hack.
Eli Wallach provides the most luminous moment in the film as the talkative Old Man living near the beach. Polanski’s daughter Morgane is hilarious in her cameo as a costumed motel desk clerk.
As grey winter skies hover, the director succeeds with perfectly chosen sets and scenes. The Langs’ ultra-modern beach house is a chilly fortress. The barren beach, pelted by cold rain, yields characters who show up all too conveniently as The Ghost follows a trail of clues.
Honoring master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, Polanski treats the viewer to shiny, black car chases; an ominous musical score, and a climactic note-passing scene. Modern touches add realism. The Ghost does a Google search for an arms dealer.
This wonderfully crafted and executed thriller will stand with some of Polanski’s best works, including Rosemary’s Baby, Tess and Chinatown. With fatalism he highlights the eternal struggle between power and the mere mortal.
If you like The Ghost Writer, you might enjoy: Fair Game; Casino Jack; Shutter Island.
The Ghost Writer 2010 / PG-13 / 2 hrs, 8 min
Cast Overview: Ewan McGregor, Jon Bernthal, Kim Cattrall, Pierce Brosnan, Tim Preece, James Belushi, Olivia Williams, Timothy Hutton, Tom Wilkinson
Director: Roman Polanski
Genres: Thriller, Drama, Psychological Drama, Crime Drama, Political Drama, Drama Based on the Book
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