Roman Polanski’s moody political thriller features a great cast and plenty of pointed political allusions. Although the pace is more leisurely than some action films, the writing is smart and the twists keep you guessing. It is not in the same class as some of Polanski’s other films (The Pianist , Chinatown , Rosemary’s Baby), but it is not a bad way to spend 128 minutes.

The former Prime Minister of England (think Tony Blair) Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) is writing his life story when his ghost writer dies under mysterious circumstances. A new ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) is dispatched to Martha’s Vineyard (Germany stands in for the United States here) to finish the book. But something is not right, and there is tension between Lang’s assistant Amelia Bly (Kim Cattrall) and Lang’s wife Ruth (Olivia Williams). When The Ghost (no one ever says his name) finds some clues in the effects of his deceased predecessor, he starts investigating on his own. Meanwhile the former Prime Minister may be charged with war crimes. Could there be a connection? If not, why is The Ghost being chased by mysterious men who may want to kill him?  

The Ghost Writer is filled with windy beaches, fog and lighthouses. The Ghost spends much of his time alone in his creepy motel and then later in the Prime Minister’s desolate beach house. Polanski wrote the screenplay with Robert Harris (adapting his novel), and the dialogue in the film is lean and often quiet. But Polanski slowly builds tension, as the Ghost tries to find meaning in a few cryptic words and the suspicious behavior of the Prime Minister and his handlers. The scenes of the Ghost talking to the Prime Minister about his life are interesting, but the film gets exciting when the Ghost senses something sinister.  A GPS leads the Ghost to an encounter with Professor Paul Emmett (Tom Wilkinson) and their seemingly benign conversation escalates the mystery. The film’s most exciting action sequence has the Ghost racing to get on a ferry, being chased through the ferry and escaping over a fence without his car.  Unlike some action sequences, this chase seems real. Credit goes to Polanski for showing restraint here, and adding to the excitement.

Ewan McGregor has a difficult job, as not much is revealed about the Ghost. But he makes the character likeable. When he realizes that Ruth may be trying to seduce him, he tells his reflection in the bathroom mirror that is it a bad idea. His wry delivery shows his self awareness, even as he is obviously tempted. McGregor and Olivia Williams have powerful chemistry, and it is great to see Williams shine in a starring role. She is convincing as the beautiful and brilliant woman who seems to be running her husband’s political career. Her jealousy seems real as she bickers with Amelia, her husband’s assistant and mistress. Ruth’s attraction to the Ghost seems sincere as she stares into his eyes when they share a drink.  She is seductive, but with an edge. Williams makes it clear that Ruth has layers and secrets.

 Handsome Pierce Brosnan plays Prime Minister Lang as a genial lightweight (he cannot remember the Ghost’s name and refers to him as “man”) who bemoans the fact that he cannot do simple things for himself, but seems oddly dependent on his wife. Early in the film one of the characters describes Lang by saying,  “He wasn’t a politician; he was a craze.” The always charismatic Brosnan hints at the Prime Minister’s darker side as he goes quickly from laughter to anger when cornered in a conversation with the Ghost.  Tom Wilkinson gives one of the film’s best performances as Paul Emmett. Emmett  seems the average academic with nothing to hide as he agrees to talk to the Ghost.  As the Ghost catches Emmett in some lies, Emmet remains calm and enigmatic, and this makes him more mysterious.

When the Ghost first reads Lang’s manuscript, he pronounces it terrible, saying, “All the words are here; they are just in the wrong order.” But it is not until the end of the film that we understand what this means.  Like the rest of the film, the end is quiet, but potent.

The Ghost Writer.  Directed by Roman Polanski.  Ewan McGregor (The Ghost), Kim Cattrall (Amelia Bly), Pierce Brosnan (Adam Lang), James Belushi (John Maddox) Timothy Hutton (Sidney Kroll), Olivia Williams (Ruth Lang), Tom Wilkinson (Paul Emmett)and Eli Wallach (Vineyard old man). Summit Entertainment, 2010.

 

Gail sees a movie appears every Wednesday.

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