The Ghost Writer

Thriller Brings Ghost to Life
The Ghost Writer, PG-13, *****Plus, Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Oliva Williams, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton, James Belushi, Eli Wallach. Summit Entertainment. Director Roman Polanski. Length 128 minutes.
“The Ghost Writer” is one of the best suspenseful, intriguing, and engaging films this calendar year. It is about a former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan). Lang wants someone to write his memoirs. The person assigned to do this was a friend of Lang’s. He ended up washing ashore on Martha’s Vineyard.
Known only as The Ghost (Ewan McGregor) is summoned to Martha’s Vineyard to finish the job. He convinces the publishers of his talents by saying he has the voice to do the job, and he can extract the material from his heart. Heart is what it takes to sale books. The Ghost lives in England, and he must travel to Martha’s Vineyard where Lang is living at the moment.
He boards a plane to the United States to begin working on the memoir manuscript. With only a month to complete the project, he must not waste time. McGregor does a great job as a sarcastic cocky writer. With his rakish attitude, he does not make a great first impression.
Brosnan displays his talents as an uptight politician looking to leave a legacy. Ruth (Olivia Williams) is Lang’s wife. She is intelligent and explosive.
Lang’s aide Amelia (Kim Cattrall) is having an affair with Lang. This is brought out in the beginning, and it is obvious to everyone as Olivia makes it known on several occasions. The tension between the two is embarrassing to those around them.
A great deal of what it takes to write memoirs is demonstrated as The Ghost interviews Lang. This helps him find his voice along with his outstanding observation skills.
The film does not waste time getting right into the story. It teases the audience as it lures everyone into the plot. No time is wasted as the film moves at a fast pace to uncover the plot for the audience.
However, the key to the story is revealed slowly. The film gives the audience just enough information to keep them on edge for the next development to occur.
Eli Walachi plays a retired gentlemen living on Martha’s Vineyard. It is always great to see him deliver dialogue in a believable way.
Paul Emmett (Tom Wilkinson) has an interesting and pivotal part in the film. Wilkinson is always interesting to watch as he creates his character with realism, strength, and finesse.
The film is full of mystery and intrigue that will remind the audience of the way Alfred Hitchcock used suspense and intensity to entrap the audience into total involvement.
For anyone enjoying great filmmaking along with a stalwart plot, “The Ghost Writer” will not disappoint.
Staying alert throughout the film is not hard to do. It is so alluring the audience will cling to every scene and each word delivered by the characters. What will be happening next will be constantly on the viewers mind? Surprises abound as the clues fall together for an absolutely grand movie going experience. “The Ghost Writer” is an old fashion suspense thriller.
Startling facts flourish in this tightly vigorous story filled with unhurried revelations. Without the use of special effects, gives the movie more credibility.
Realism and suspense thrive with dialogue and everyday activities.
The film is adapted from The Ghost by Robert Harris. The book is excellent and the film brilliantly brings the characters to life.