Flickshout

The Ghost Writer (2010)

Genre: Drama/Thriller/Mystery

Director: Roman Polanski

Writers: Robert Harris , Roman Polanski  

Stars: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan and Olivia Williams

 

My Rating: 4.5/5

Movies are all about story telling. You can have all the fancy looking casts and jaw dropping action or animation or sex, but the final thing what a viewer would ponder upon once he leaves the theater is the story. When there is a story which matter above all then that movie will remain in the hearts and minds for a very long time. ‘The Ghost Writer’ is such magnificent and thought provoking piece of movie making. 

Let’s briefly hover upon the plot. Adam Lang (played by Pierce Brosnan- the Matador, Taylor of Panama) is a former British prime minister who now lives in a remote island in USA. The author who was assigned to do his auto biography is one day found dead on the beach. So the publishing company seeks a ghost writer in order to complete the memoir and ‘Ghost’ (Evan McGregor-Deception, Miss Potter) is assigned for the task. Mean while Adam Lang is accused of crimes related to human rights in international scale and the Ghost starts to get familiarized with Adams life, secrets and more deep and dark conspiracies which soon will put his life in danger. The story is about how the Ghost and Adam not collectively but in different means try to get over the challenges they face in the tough times. The deeper the Ghost investigates the harder it seems for him to return. 

Adams character which clearly is related to Tony Blair and the recent events which took place put Brosnan in a tight spot. Yet he proves that his performance is Prime Minister material and so do the acting by the young Jedi Evan McGregor. When it comes to acting, it’s not right to forget Olivia Williams who plays Adams desperate wife who brings a crucial touch to the plot and the script. There are few loose ends in the script but the mere thrill and the mood which the movie runs you will completely forget them by the time the titles roll. 

The sets are dramatic and perfect with modern architecture and interior which sometimes gives the creeps and most of the time shows a vast emptiness and uncertainty throughout. Especially the house by the sea where Adam Lang resides is a mere portrait of his life after the fame and challenges he must have faced in the office. Even thought the walls are perfectly garnished with expensive paintings there is somewhat a dull and mystery to each corner of the house. The climate, the people and even the roads of the small town looks like they have some mystery in them. Here you may find a little Hitchcock or a familiar raise of heartbeat once in a while.

Hats off to the remarkable direction of Roman Polanski who someone I seriously have great gratitude after ‘The Pianist’ and it’s heartrending to know that I have missed so much of his great works already. 

‘The Ghost Writer’ is Golden Globe or Oscar material, but I find it a little disappointing to see that this didn’t appear in any nominations this year. But no regrets as it already won 8 other awards and 10 nominations.

There should be more movies like ‘The Ghost Writer’. 

Trailer