The Ghost

An Atmospheric Delight, 16 April 2010

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom


*** This review may contain spoilers ***


A solid piece of old fashioned film making by veteran fugitive Director Roman Polanski. A modern noir interpretation of the Robert Harris book, this is a cerebral, rather than visceral, thriller. A 15 certificate in the UK, although Polanski is sure it was 18...............................

The plot is solid. A ghost writer is hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister after the previous writer died in mysterious circumstances. From there the "ghost" becomes no longer the recorder of the past, he becomes a dynamic part in it. Pierce Brosnan plays ex Premier Adam Lang in a manner deliberately echoing real ex British Prime Minister. Physically there are similarities, the style is similar, and Lang is facing the threat of War Crimes resulting from his close co-operation with the Americans. Brosnan's performance is adequate, his lurching from an English to mid- Atlantic accent is not.

Ewan McGregor stars as the ghost writer and carries the part well. The overtones of Hitchcock for his part are unmistakable as an innocent man stumbles upon events which are much larger than him. Ironically he doesn't get the sexpot, Lang's "personal assistant" Amelia Bly, seductively played by Kim Cattrall, but does get to bed Lang's wife Ruth, played by Olivia Williams,whose supporting role as the suppressed wife is nicely handled.

Hand held "bucket" shots and fast editing are out. Placing the camera in the right position to let the story unfold is in with the generous running time of 128 mins giving each scene time to breathe and develop. The script is neat and witty, the prospect of a second ghost writer being killed is dismissed on the basis that "they aren't kittens". BMW must be pretty pleased with their product placement too as a key scene unfolds like a promotional shoot for their X5, and it's satellite navigation system in particular.

Polanski's legal difficulties mean that some of the American scenes are not set on location, with Lang's island hideaway there easy to replicate. Instead the strong contrasting urban scenes are set in London. His strength as a Director has always been his ability to tell a story with atmosphere and "Ghost" is strongest on these points. No scene is wasted, the bits all fit together, and a satisfying whole is the result. A real return to form.