When a successful British ghost writer, THE GHOST WRITER, agrees to complete the memoirs of former British Prime Minister ADAM LANG, his agent assures him it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. But the project seems doomed from the start – not least because his predecessor on the project, Lang’s long-term aide, died in an unfortunate accident.
THE GHOST WRITER flies out to work on the project, in the middle of winter, in an oceanfront house on an island off the US Eastern seaboard. But the day after he arrives, a former British cabinet minister accuses Lang of authorizing the illegal seizure of suspected terrorists and handing them over for torture by the CIA—a war crime. The controversy brings reporters and protesters swarming to the island mansion where Lang is staying with his wife, RUTH, and his personal assistant (and mistress), AMELIA. As THE GHOST WRITER works, he begins to uncover clues suggesting his predecessor may have stumbled on a dark secret linking Lang to the CIA—and that somehow this information is hidden in the manuscript he left behind. Was Lang in the service of the American intelligence agency while he was Prime Minister? And was THE GHOST WRITER’s predecessor murdered because of the appalling truth he uncovered?
Directed by Roman Polanski who brought us such films as The Pianist and Tess brings us this new Suspense Thriller THE GHOST WRITER, starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall and Olivia Williams. This film was supposed to have been filmed in early 2008 and ended up getting pushed back a year, originally Nicolas Cage was to play the title role but his schedule wouldn’t permit the year wait so Ewan stepped in as the replacement. Roman Polanski also got arrested just after filming and ended up completing the film from a Swiss Prison and missed out on the films premiere and a few awards the film has won, he’s out now but I don’t think he will return to the states anytime soon.
This film is beautifully done, the attention to detail especially the filming locations are amazing. The Opening Credits sort of freak you out because there is none! I had actually thought they had put the wrong reel on and I had started watching the movie from half way through but alas everything was fine. The Music to the film should also be mentioned, Polanski used the composer Alexandre Desplat who also scored ‘Coco Before Chanel’ and ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ It amazes me the feeling some composers can make you feel, I actually felt a bit uncomfortable in some scenes as the suspense was just killing me but I feel that’s exactly what Polanski was going for and he delivered.
I’ve always enjoyed watching Ewan McGregor on screen and off the top of my head I can’t think of a bad role…. Well actually that movie back in 2003 with Renee Zellweger still pains me but in THE GHOST WRITER it felt to me like it was written for him I really couldn’t see Nicolas Cage in this role. Pierce Brosnan very strong as the former British Prime Minister Adam Lang eventhough it did feel to me he didn’t have as much screen time but he still has a massive presence when he’s on screen. I will say that Kim Cattrall was quietly shocking in this film, I dragged my brother to this one and he said about 10seconds after she first talked “she should stick to those sex and the city movies” and I agree she just tried way too hard and couldn’t pull it off.
THE GHOST WRITER is a twisty film and for a Polanski film it felt like more of a Hitchcock, but it does show that Roman is still here and after 4 years with no films he comes back with this near close Masterpiece.
In Cinemas the 12th August and I give THE GHOST WRITER 4 out of 5 Stars.