Film: The Ghost Writer
Cast includes: Ewan McGregor (Star Wars), Pierce Brosnan (Die Another Day), Olivia Williams (An Education)
Director/screenwriter: Roman Polanski (Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown)
Genre: Mystery/suspense thriller, based on a novel by Robert Harris
In brief: Was it an accident or suicide? [Or dare we think murder?] Whatever it was, former Prime Minister, Alan Lang, and his publisher, Reinhart Inc., now need a new ghostwriter for Lang’s memoir. The unnamed character played by Ewan McGregor is a long shot for the job. He knows nothing about politics. But the job pays well, so he sells hard to get it… even though he really doesn’t know what it entails. The top-secret manuscript is at a secure location, Reinhart’s satellite office on an unnamed island that feels rather like Martha’s Vineyard. It’s hard to believe there’s a place that could make London’s weather look good, but it’s cold and rainy all the time on this island. When the ghost gets there, he’s shown into an office where the manuscript is kept under lock and key. He’s not allowed to remove it or copy it. It’s hard to imagine who’d really be all that interested in it. It’s so boring it’s mind numbing. But Ghost starts at the beginning.
In the meantime, Lang’s life is anything but boring… especially now. Richard Rycart is accusing Lang of the illegal handover of terror suspects for torture. Ever since this story broke, there have been reporters and protestors everywhere. It’s hard to get Lang to focus on his memoir with all that’s going on. Protestors are so thick that Ghost has to move from his bed-and-breakfast in town into the room that Mike, the previous ghost, stayed in at Reinhart. Mike’s clothes are still there, which is a little unnerving. When Ghost decides to pack up Mike’s things, he finds a hidden envelop with some photos and documents. They look harmless… but somehow, they must be significant.
Menace, atmosphere and intrigue… are the hallmarks of this movie, from the rain soaked beginning to the soggy ending. Polanski masterfully creates a world where everything sets us on edge. Four decades ago, Polanski set us on edge with Rosemary’s Baby, and he continues to be the master of the deliciously sinister. At one point in the movie, a character tells the ghost to turn right. “If you go left, you go deeper into the woods, and you may never be seen again.” The problem is that all directions appear to be taking the ghost deeper into the woods.
3 popped kernels
Popped kernels for dark suspense, excellent acting, excellent script... and awesom production
Popcorn Profile
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Mainstream limited release
Mood: Neither upbeat nor somber
Tempo: Cruses comfortably
Visual Style: Nicely varnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Pure entertainment
