The Ghost Writer – Review

Roman Polanski continues his longstanding reign behind the camera as he emerges from his controversial life to bring about The Ghost Writer. When the Ghost (Ewan McGregor) gets hired to finish writing up the autobiography of Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), he quickly figures out that he’s climbed into something way over his head that he cannot escape. Mystery and suspense conquer a majority of the film which is a more solid overall feature than expected at first glance.

One of the strongest things about the entire film is the script, written by both Polanski and Robert Harris. Though the picture is predictable to an extent, it still draws your attention a majority of the time with the solid dialogue and development. The pacing is a little off beat at times. At one point you could be in the smooth flow of the movie, and then suddenly an invisible speed bump will hit and then it drops to a snail’s pace. Despite that, most of the acting does save the day.

McGregor is easily the most enjoyable character to watch as The Ghost. Everyone else practically takes a back seat to McGregor, not because the script calls for it, but because his screen presence and likable character captures your attention. Brosnan is under used but strong whenever he appears. Unfortunately the most annoying of the bunch goes to Kim Cattrall with one of the worst accents heard on screen by these ears in awhile.

Polanski’s direction within the extent of the feature is subtle yet strong enough to carry the plot of the novel adaptation from start to finish. The famed director has not been behind the camera for a thriller of this caliber in decades, but it does not show. However, this is not one of Polanski’s strongest films, a majority of it purely riding of McGregor and the script.

Overall The Ghost Writer flows on as a satisfying thriller that sheds a bit more hope for the dull early months, that quality features can still flow out of the theaters no matter what time of the year it is.

Rating: