The Ghost Writer

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by: Dena Leasure (United States)
on: Saturday, 30-October-2010

I bought this movie because of the actors. It was a good movie with a very unique ending. This movie is pretty much a thriller and keeps you guessing.

by: AussieinNY (Westchester NY)
on: Tuesday, 26-October-2010

Saw this on the flight from NY to LA and was extremely impressed with the quality of the acting and the storyline. Like other reviewers, recommend people ignore the controversy of the director and stick to reviewing the film. Highly recommended and am purchasing for my DVD collection.The Ghost Writer

by: Amit Talpade (New York)
on: Sunday, 10-October-2010

Generally I avoid movies that are about the war in Iraq, simply because there have been so many. I only watched this because it has been directed by Roman Polanski, who delivers great movies. The Ghost Writer is about a author (Evan McGregor ) who has been picked to ghost write for Adam Lang ( Pierce Brosnan ) a former British Prime Minister. The circumstances under which McGregor was picked were tragic and mysterious because the prior ghost writer died. As he commences his ghost writing duties, he starts discovering some chilling revelations.
I thought the movie was excellent in all respects, especially the writing, acting and direction. The movie takes place in the confines of Marthas Vineyard and some other locations. The entire mood of the movie is somber and gloomy and something always seems to be simmering under the surface. Each character has been brilliantly written and suspicious. The conclusion is also surprising and chilling. Based on a book, The Ghost by Robert Harris, the references draw parallels to Tony Blair. There is also a Condi Rice lookalike in one scene. Kim Cattrall acts reserved a complete change from the loud role she has had on the Sex and the City series. Olivia Williams is splendid as the frustrated but in control wife of the Prime Minister. Evan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan are great and so is Tom Wilkinson in a brief but important role. I would watch this movie again. 4 stars. 10/3/10

by: MadMacs (Honolulu, HI United States)
on: Friday, 8-October-2010

Laughable wish-list film presentation for the liberals of the world. Or, How We Wish This Would Happen To Tony Blair.

Having said that, the creativity and skill factor of the filmmakers is very high. Taking the moronic and lame attempts at politicking out of the film and this becomes a very decent thriller with Ewan McGregor doing a solid performance as the ghostwriter following in the exact steps of a colleague who died under very suspicious circumstances.

Again, putting aside the schoolyard politics, my only minor complaints were three fold.

First, was the use of Kim Cattrall as a Brit. In all seriousness, while Im constantly amazed at the ability of UK and Aussie actors to pull off a very convincing generic American accent - it most certainly is not a reciprocal skill. Having a US actor going about with the posh elites looks and sounds pathetically anglophile and oh-so-insecure.

Second, Polanskis use of a concrete bunker was bit overmuch; he might as well have stenciled in Reichskanzlei in gothic script to make his point.

And finally, I question the obvious the audio track edits to remove a fairly common profane word. Edits that, for all intents and purposes, had negligible effect on either storyline or character development. So why do it at all? And in the case of Brosnans former PM - a definite weakening of what could have been a much more ominous characterization.

A decent thriller for film fans, a pathetic wishful rewriting of history for liberals, and an inane stab for conservatives. Lets give Director Polanski credit where credit is due for delivering something for everyone and nothing particular for no one.

by: Michal Bonislawski (Warsaw, Poland)
on: Wednesday, 6-October-2010

I just love its climate. The camera generates cozy and full-of-Britain feeling. Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan are getting old but they look better and better. Tom Wilkinson as always. Perfect!

Michael/Warsaw/Poland

by: M. Fontaine Timothee (United States)
on: Monday, 4-October-2010

Whether its the blu-ray itself or the movie, this is just perfect. buy it right now !

by: Judy K. Polhemus (Louisiana)
on: Thursday, 30-September-2010

The Ghost Writer is far and away the best film of 2010, despite the criminal and moral controversy of Director Roman Polanski. Perhaps it is these very qualities which give him insight into dark and crooked minds, for let it be declared: Dark and crooked deeds are afoot in this film.

Ewan McGregors character--symbolically nameless in the film--replaces the dead ghost writer behind the memoirs of the previous prime minister of England. His (the PMs) dirty deeds come to light--a symbolic phrase representative of symbolic darkness and light throughout the film--and a firestorm of anger breaks loose at the revelation of torture the PM allowed to be used to gain information.

Who, of course, can condone torture? This is where Polanski fairly shows both sides of this controversy and the related racial and religious profiling. Pierce Brosnans character (the PM) asks pointedly: Which airline would you rather fly--the one that pulls certain people aside for close examination or the one that allows all passengers through checkpoint to prevent profiling? The answer is, of course, two-sided--the public answer and the private answer.

So much is hidden and kept under lock and key (literally), but the deepest secret is not even known. McGregors character discovers hidden information left by his deceased predecessor in the same room both inhabit(ed). The previous ghost writers death was ruled accidental; the new ghost writer finally believes otherwise. Surely, the predecessor was killed and now maybe, he, too, is in terrible danger.

When he finally discovers the deepest and darkest secret, it is too late.

The acting is superlative all around, film editing is perfectly executed. Filmed in New England in a moody, misty, gloomy, almost menacing setting along the Atlantic coast, the story becomes reflective of its atmosphere: brooding, haunting, secretive, with each minute, each scene just sitting on the edge and suggestive of something imminently horrible. The great irony, as in the discovery of the torture the PM allowed, is the setting in Marthas Vineyard, the very name of refinement. But here, in its midst, is something dark. In fact, a wall-sized picture window overlooking this ominous ocean-front scene suggests the sinister watcher quality of the PM. Point: Such an excellent film must have an excellent director, so I give credit where it is due, despite that persons ugly baggage.

I was completely blown away by The Ghost Writer, my pick for best movie of the year.

by: M. R. Griffin (So. California)
on: Monday, 20-September-2010

A throwback to the days when slow to boil suspense and subtle intrigue were reason enough to screen a film. The film doesnt require peeking through the fingers, seat belts or sending the kids next door to play. The `action takes place in your mind. So often these days, we, the viewers are spoon fed everything and the direction one looks to is spelled out thoroughly, lest one be burdened with the aspect of thinking. Id have to say the last good film of this vibe was `Match Point (Woody Allen). What it has in common with `The Ghost Writer besides the fact that both were directed by infamous men (here Roman Polanski) of questionable character, is that they are well done.

The Ghost Writer concerns a writer (Ewan McGregor) hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan) when the original `Ghost suddenly dies. While researching the PM, he uncovers, stumbles upon and is led to mysterious information regarding his subject. As befits most fine mystery films, that information comes from an array of interesting characters along the way. No disappointments here, as Tom Wilkinson, Robert Pugh, and the great Eli Wallach take turns throwing curve balls.

Kim Cattrall, as the PMs Chief of Staff communicates more with posture and a sly wink than most blabbermouths making the rounds in Hollywood these days. Olivia Williams is outstanding as his smart but strictly photo op wife. Timothy Hutton, James Belushi and Jon Bernthal spice things up along the way to make this film recommended for one of those rainy days you havent a ghost of a chance to accomplish anything for the afternoon.

by: Jeffrey A. Thompson (Iowa City, IA USA)
on: Sunday, 19-September-2010

This is a typical Polanski film. It is a piece of slick film making. The house at Marthas Vineyard is almost a character in itself: it is elegant but forbidding. Marthas Vineyard in the winter is cold and wet. The storms highlight the turmoil of the characters. The acting is great. There are good cameos by Belushi, Timothy Hutton and Eli Wallach. Olivia Williams is the strong and cynical wife. Brosnan does a great job as the prime minister. McGregor is very good. He plays the amateur detective who does not want to be involved, but his curiosity takes over. Kim Cattral as the assistant/mistress seems a little vague. The plot doesnt quite hold up, but it is interesting. The ending, as is typical in a Polanski film, is a slight let down, but he gets to the end with style and grace. He adds little Hitchcockian touches throughout the movie. The movie is a pleasant suspense movie without major explosions, car chases, or multiple gunfights. He builds the suspense through character development, plot and atmosphere.

by: kitn (United States)
on: Friday, 17-September-2010

This was a great movie! Also, the seller was polite, shipped fast and was really great! Excellent Movie!
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by: Donald Gavron (Woodbridge, NJ)
on: Friday, 17-September-2010

Whatever on thinks about Roman Polanski the man certainly knows how to make compelling films. Since Knife in the Water (in 1962) he has been giving viewers psychological horror films that remain among the best of all time. In The Ghost Writer, Polanski shifts his aim at a more subtle horror -- the criminal activities of world leaders that hide behind their so-called patriotism. There are a lot of allusions in this film, some obvious (to Tony Blair, ex-Prime Minister of Great Britain) and some ironic (Adam Lang, the ex-PM, is sequestered in a hideaway that suggest Polanskis own recent incarceration in his Swiss Chalet while under house arrest in Switzerland). The thrust of the story is a memoir Lang is writing. The first ghostwriter he employs dies under mysterious circumstances (Suicide? Murder?) and another, unnamed writer (wonderfully played by Ewan McGregor) is employed to touch up the script. Soon accusations surface regarding Langs involvement with the CIA. The Ghost is now under fire to complete the heavy-handed ms. sooner than expected to capitalize on the recent events. The manuscript becomes the focal point of the film. The Ghosts room is ransacked. Langs subordinates are not quite what they seem (even his wife falls under suspicion), and there are telling clues in the ms. and research of the former ghost that suggest Lang is guilty of the crimes he so vehemently denies. Without revealing much more of the plot, the film follows the Ghost on his mission to find the truth. But the truth has a cost, and what is the truth anyway? Polanski seems to be asking these questions of himself in addition to the actions of the leaders who spin the truth for their own expediency. Pierce Brosnan must be acknowledged as a fine choice for Lang. His performance is one of his best. Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson and 95-year old Eli Wallach, who is a treasure to behold, deliver other delicious acting turns. There are holes in the script (let the viewer find them) and some stilted performances (Kim Cattrall and Timothy Hutton dont seem to fit), but Polanski weaves his spiders web of deceit and betrayal like few directors can or could. This is an exercise in style and paranoia, and a pointed examination of the people who shape political events.

by: Phip (New York)
on: Thursday, 16-September-2010

New movies are coming out all the time and it seems the two genres which are constantly popping out an influx are chic flicks and suspense/crime/thrillers. Chic flicks usually have a loyal following. Write a tear-jerking story and throw in a cute, romantic guy and you got a hit. The thriller is a little more complex. You need an intricately-wound plot line, with twists and turns and enough action to keep you into the movie. This is where I think The Ghost Writer falls short.
After the tragic supposed suicide of the ghost writer for former British Prime Minister, Adam Langs memoirs, an unnamed, unsuspecting writer is hired to continue the work. Soon after taking the job, the Ghost learns that Lang is being accused of war crimes and is under investigation. He begins to wonder what hes gotten himself. Over the course of the interviews and researching, the Ghost begins to see that some of the stories are not adding up. He probes further into the mystery and many elements remain hazy, but this much he is able to deduce: that his predecessor was murdered.
There are so many technical components that gives this movie high quality, not the least of which is Roman Polanskis brilliant, detailed directing. It seems Hitchcocks ghost has been visiting him. The set of eery hotels, bleak beach houses, and dark forest roads lend a ominous quality to the film. You never feel quite safe. The cinematography employs cold lighting. The music is perfect: a little creepy, but not horror creepy. More along the lines of you can tell somethings not quite right. These are just some things that are executed with such perfection that its sure to be studied by film students for years to come. The casting and acting is top notch. Ewan McGregor is back in his role of naive writer thrown into a story he isnt prepared for, a role he seems to have perfected (Moulin Rouge, Men Who Stare at Goats). Pierce Brosnans acting is getting better with age. He fits the bill of the suave British Prime Minister in emotional and ethical turmoil perfectly. An unexpected talent is Olivia Williams, absolutely brilliant in her part of the Prime Ministers wife. She acts with such force and confidence that you know right away theres more to this character youre seeing right away. But the script and the plot are just too weak. You know youre supposed to feel suspicion and suspense but you dont know what it is youre suspicious of or who. Theres not really a focus for your fear. Which I guess might be accurate because the Ghost doesnt really know who dunnit or who he should trust. The problem is he seems to trust everyone. He calls a number scribbled by his dead predecessor, he confides in Langs wife, he blatantly questions an obviously suspicious source about the former writers death, and he lays everything on the table before Lang who is the last person he should trust. And not that action is everything (this is after all a political thriller), but there is almost none of it in the whole movie. The best we get to see is a pseudo car chase and someone escaping a boat with relatively no danger.
Also I dont know how Polanski cant see the parallels between Lang and himself. High profile figure under investigation for past events, sheltering in a foreign country. Its a little awkward.
Its a shame that this movie wasnt better written. It has so much going for it. I would recommend seeing it because I know some people who absolutely loved it and after a few more viewings I might too. But it didnt grab me on the first watch and quite honestly, I dont feel the need to revisit it.

by: Dr. Robert F. Knoll (Highland Park, NJ)
on: Monday, 13-September-2010

Ghost Writer,Polanskis best film since The Pianist, was one of the most delightful surprises of the dismal spring movie season of 2010. Expertly directed, written, photographed, performed and scored,Writer is best described as a political thriller with existential overtones. Set mostly on a slate grey and damp German coast standing in for Massachusetts, the film shows Ewan McGregors nameless title character morphing into a detective seeking to uncover the truth about his predecessors death and the extremely convoluted backstory of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang. Given Pierce Brosnans diabolically seductive impersonation, it will be impossible to look at Tony Blair on his current book tour and not see the elegant former James Bond in his (Blairs) stead. The breakout performance of the film is given by Olivia Williams as Langs brilliantly devious and constantly surprising wife. Even with its heavy dose of thematic and visual fatalism, this film merits repeated viewings.

by: L. J Nary (Indio, CA United States)
on: Monday, 13-September-2010

This film was intriguing but I felt like I didnt get enough information, like there were holes missing. It may be just me, it had really good suspense and acting, yet the leads didnt seem to bring closure to me. Its about a former Prime Minister who is being thrown in the media for committing war crimes. Before this happens he has a ghost writer writing his memoirs, who unfortunately dies in a drowning that has some possible funny business written on it. In walks Ewan, the next ghost writer picking up the slack. He is very straight forward, not really evocative in his speech or manner, a person who is quiet and inward. He finds clues that cause him to ponder, did the other writer possibly get murdered. During that time his subject is being whisked away to Washington to respond to the allegations of possible terrorist suspects being tortured. The prime minister is visibly shaken and his wife who plays a strong regal woman, seems overwrought over his not following her guidance. He usually follows her advice she tells Ewans character. Things get more involved with the couple Ewan is learning and writing about. He finds out secret information which leads to more intrigue. It is confusing did the Prime Minister get involved with the CIA before becoming a Prime Minister, or was it just his spouse involved in a triage of deceit? Was the Minister used by his wife and her tutor Emmet to be placed the role of Prime Minister in Great Britain? Did they manipulate a carefree actor who chased women by using a love interest to attract him on their path instead of his own, made by conscious choice? These are questions. Later on, was he set up somehow with the crimes, used, than taken out of commision on purpose as was his friend the first ghostwriter? Did the first writer have pertinent information to leak to the Minister before his death? Again lots of contemplation from this mystical raindrenched movie. The things I liked about this film were the beautiful glass encased room showing the long stretch of beach with sea grassy dunes spread out like a visual feast, the beauty of the compactness the house reflected, the big sandwich that Ewan had made for him by the housekeeper, the super quiet storybook hotel, with the little hostess dressed as a swiss maid and I liked the job Ewan had. It seemed like it would be fun to write and have all the accessories that came with the career. He also had the opportunity to meet people who were interesting and find out things that were something not everybody has privy to. Polanskis movies are very well done and keep an audience captive.

by: Craig Whittle (Phoenix, AZ)
on: Monday, 13-September-2010

THE GHOST WRITER

STARRING: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams,Tom Wilkinson, Kim Cattrall, Timothy Hutton and James Belushi

WRITTEN BY: Roman Polanski and Robert Harris; based on the novel by Robert Harris

DIRECTED BY: Roman Polanski

Rated: R
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Release Date: 19 March 2010
Review Date: 02 September 2010



I wont comment on my personal feelings of Roman Polanski, but I will credit him with being a talented filmmaker. He has an elegant gift of being able to take a thriller and jam pack it to the brim with as much drama as he can, without making it boring. I look at his films sometimes and wonder how he does it. Chinatown, The Pianist and The Ninth Gate, are among his best pictures, and are now followed by The Ghost Writer.

Ewan McGregor stars as `The Ghost - a writer who is good at what he does, but doesnt have much to be proud of in his life. McGregor is amazing. The guy has the ability to take a character that we would normally look at like a joke or a dork, and make us not only like him, but love him by the end of the movie. The Men Who Stare at Goats displays this beautifully.

His Ghost character here, is the same. There is nothing big and cinematic about him that would ordinarily warrant him to be a lead character. In fact, had McGregor not been cast to play him, Im not sure the film would have worked.

We follow The Ghost from start to finish. Hes invited to a meeting at which he is offered a very large sum of money to act as a ghost writer for a well known politician named Lang (Pierce Brosnan). Lang has been working on his autobiography with another ghost writer, who has just turned up dead; dun, Dun, DUN!

Something shady is going on with Lang and soon The Ghost grows suspicious of this and decides to do some snooping around. Was this guy involved in the mysterious death of his previous ghost? And will our ghost be next?

As was the case in Salt and a ton of other movies, there are undoubtedly themes and tones in The Ghost Writer that can shadow current day political scandals; but that doesnt interest me. Who cares? We go to the movies to be entertained with fiction, not political nonsense. So, sorry - we wont be discussing that today; but the news is on at six.

The story is very riveting and grasps your attention right away and this is where Polanski shines the most: telling the story with the camera. As best I can remember, we never knew anything that The Ghost didnt. Thats good suspense.

Lots of clues, lots of twists, love affairs, lying, brilliant writing and directing, great acting by everyone all around and a brilliant story, all wrapped up with one of the best endings Ive seen in a while. The Ghost Writer is the kind of film, that makes movies fun!

by: Bill Ford Interiors, Inc. (Paducah, KY)
on: Sunday, 12-September-2010

Roman Polanski has succeeded in making another brilliant and beautiful film that stands along Rosemarys Baby and Chinatown in a cycle of breathtaking film. His films hold up during repeated viewings and this one actually improves with each viewing. Ewan McGregor is always a standout and this is to-date his best performance. Pierce Bronson has excelled himself also in this gorgeously photographed and edited film. Again the truly great films never seen to win awards - but they last and this will stand the test of time.

by: Junglies (Morrisville, NC United States)
on: Saturday, 11-September-2010

This movie was recommended to me by an anglophile colleague with an interest in British politics.

My first reaction was to the miscasting of Kim Catrell who provides an unconvincing portrayal of a British aide with a foreign accent.

Overall the movie held my interest with the viewer trying to pice together the clues before the revelations near the end.

Anyone with any prior knowledge of parliamentarian protocols would understand the creative licenses utilized by the film makers permit the story to start. No stuffy civil servants or intelligence offices to scan the text for breaches of the official secrets act or divulge any policy decisions.

The dramatization involving Ewan Macgreggor was excellent. His bedroom scene with the ex-PMs wife where he calmly removes his clothes and gets into bed with her before she suddenly pounces was comical but typically British.

My greatest admiration comes for the British actor who portrays the stuck up Harvard professor with an excellent New England accent extremely well.

The ending was really overdone. Like the RSC version of Romeo and Juliet which involved death by hypodermic, the death of the ghost writer at the end seemed stupid and pointless, not because you saw it coming but in the manner of it, highly improbable to say the least.

Polanski sometimes overdoes his movies with too much music and in this case with too much overbearing dreary music, very much so in comparison with Gorky Park for instance.

All in all, a reasonably good effort despite February looking like October.

by: Tony Khamvongsouk (Frisco, TX)
on: Wednesday, 8-September-2010

Movie - 4.5

I know the name Roman Polanski, but Im embarrassed to say this is only the first film of his Ive ever seen. My curiosity for this movie was nudged after hearing his name and the names of some very fine actors being involved, namely: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, and Tom Wilkinson. In watching The Ghost Writer, I had gone in expecting some sort of political thriller along the lines of State of Play (the last political thriller I saw and really, really liked); something with a lot of twists, turns, and deception from every which way until a shocking resolution was reached. Instead, I was completely surprised with a good deal of British charm, wit, and whimsicality involved, and then a little dazzle in the discovery of one Mr. Polanskis talent. The Ghost Writer is, indeed, a thriller that managed to captivate and keep me guessing what would happen next, but in a very odd manner. Usually, when watching political thrillers, or thrillers in general, Ive always had this expectancy of complexity factor in which I just about always expected the unexpected to happen, and often. But in experiencing this film, I was surprised at how it achieved the same effect, though in much less flashy theatrics and writing. From the very beginning, we know someone is dead, this ghost is assigned to finish the memoirs of a controversial former Prime Minister, and that things just logically snowball deeper and deeper into conspiracy. However, what surprised me the most was at how well-ground and down-to-earth the screenplay felt. It was very simple in nature, and not at all what I was expecting, and yet I couldnt help but become more and more intrigued by the mysteries that lied therein until everything came to revelation, and the movie was over just as the symbolism of the ghost implies. If Polanski was always this good, then I apologize up-front that I never bothered to discover him in the first place. The drama, sleuthing, and pacing were very enjoyable.

Video - 5.0

You wouldnt think a political thriller would make for much reference-level material, but dont let the generalization fool you. The Ghost Writer looks stunning on BD with a perfect transfer whose simplicity in writing is as deceptively commendable as its photography. Colors offer a wide selection of vibrancy throughout the various locations, sets, and costumes. And as plain as they are, flawless picture reproduction is still flawless. Black levels are deep and equally without fault, providing for some excellent foreshadowing as the film progresses. And speaking of shadows, line/shadow delineation is some of the best Ive seen in recent memory (in relation to recent films). There were parts of the movie when McGregor would be sitting and reading in the dark, and the level of depth between his silhouette, the shadows behind him, and the natural lighting from the screen were ridiculously accurate and separated from one another. Contrast and lighting benefit from this very much as well, as apparent in the very fine skin and cloth detail from the gray hairs on Brosnans head, to the fibers of a bath robe, to the stretch (or plastic surgery) marks on Kim Cattralls body (have to say, though, she looks pretty good for 54). Sharpness is razor sharp and presents the overall photography with a kind of subtlety worthy of Blu-ray and the hype that comes along with its label of pristine picture. This is definitely a winner, and should get at least an Oscar nomination for cinematography.

Audio - 4.5

Again, political thrillers dont usually instill that, wow, thats going to sound awesome, kind of feeling, but this movie just kept surprising me. Dialogue sounds perfect through the center and all (dont know how anyone can screw that up), and the script/acting come off very well to help the carry the plot. My biggest surprise, though, is in the score. Alexandre Desplats compositions completely caught me off guard. Theyre not bad or anything, but the instrumentation and overall ambiance just really kept me into the film for some reason. Itd be something tense and suspenseful at one moment with a bunch of strings, and then all of a sudden transition into an almost goofy set of drums, woodwinds, and brass that, strangely, still had the right sense of setting a tone. I really dont know how to explain the feeling I got from his work, but it seemed off, yet oddly satisfying. As for sound effects, a lot of it is left to a particular kind of ambiance as well. The effects are relatively just there in the background, like cars driving on gravel, rainfall, ocean waves, the wind, or various creaks and taps on the furniture, but it makes for a great mix, regardless of their frivolities. I think my subwoofer went to standby once or twice from the inactivity of LFEs, so that should be pretty self-explanatory. For a film like this, though, you dont really need them.

Extras - 3.5

Not a whole lot of special features here other than an interview with the author of the original novel, Robert Harris (who is also the screenwriter for the film), interviews with the four main actors in what they thought about working with Polanski, and then an interview with Polanski himself, all of which are presented in HD. Im going to go out on a limb here and say that, while the extras themselves dont amount to much in terms of quantity (just under 30 minutes), I still very much enjoyed the quality of them, mainly because this is the only thing Ive ever come to see or hear about in relation to Roman Polanski and the notoriety that comes with his name as a director. From what Ive heard about him, I get this image that hes a highly-renowned and very well-respected director thats something of an icon in the industry. And after hearing these comments about him, Id even go to say the general consensus is to call him a sort of living legend. From his demeanor and the quality of work shown in this film, I can certainly see why hes earned a lot of this praise, and Im very curious to play catchup on his career now. With that being said, I thought the extras also helped to add a decent amount of depth to the characters, plot, and filming process, though obviously they couldve been longer or more fully-explained. I also wouldve loved to have heard an audio commentary by Polanski and Harris for the film, but too bad, I guess. Despite these shortcomings, I was pleased to be enlightened about Polanskis image in general.

Overall - 4.5

The Ghost Writer certainly wont be everyones cup of tea. Its a thriller, yes, but its nowhere near as fancy or flashy as a gangster, cop, or espionage entry into the genre. Its a much more simplistic, logical, almost humdrum kind of thriller filled with witty characters and tout dialogue, but could still be entertaining if youre in to this type of film. Id never seen a Polanski film till now, but Im proud to say Im damn curious to see some more. With reference video, near-reference audio, and a pretty short, though very informative, set of extras (for me, anyway), I highly recommend this BD for fans of the movie. Others may want to give it a rent to see if it fits their preferences, first.

by: Scott T. Rivers (Los Angeles, CA USA)
on: Tuesday, 7-September-2010

Director Roman Polanski has crafted a stylish yet astonishingly predictable thriller based on Robert Harris topical 2007 novel. Despite the familiar twists and turns, a strong cast and Polanskis formidable skill maintain interest. The Ghost Writer does not rank with the filmmakers best work, yet it is miles ahead of earlier misfires such as Frantic and Bitter Moon. Worth seeing for Ewan McGregors compelling performance in the title role.

by: Robin Simmons (Palm Springs area, CA United States)
on: Monday, 6-September-2010

This controversial thriller and murder mystery implies that a certain former British prime minister had a very big, explosive secret. Some readers of the Robert Harris novel think its based on true events. Whatever you think of Roman Polanski, his film adaptation does nothing to remove the aura of a real life secret exposed. This is old school filmmaking at its best. Ewan McGregor is a ghostwriter assigned to go to an isolated estate along New Englands east coast and write the memoirs of the secluded Adam Lang (Pierce Bronson). The ambitious writer is quickly seduced by the power of sex and politics as the shocking story he uncovers becomes deadly. I liked this solid suspenser that many film goers overlooked.

As of this writing, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair autobiography was just released. Its VERY interesting reading the reviews and interviews with Blair and then seeing this roman a clef that seems, in many ways, more truth than fiction.