04 May 2010, Posted by admin in Review,Thoughts, No Comments. Tagged Review, yesim

The Ghost

Written by Yesim.

The Ghost (Writer) is Roman Polanski’s adaption of the tense political thriller by Robert Harris. Polanski’s film gets off to a slow, labouring start, with a questionable accent from Ewan McGregor playing the lead role of a solitary ghost writer. He is employed to complete the work of previous ghost writer who died before he finished his job. Viewers are shown little of his past however and the character is not as fully developed as it could have been.

Tension and interest build as the death of McGregor’s predecessor appears increasingly suspicious and the reputation of his client – ex Labour PM Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) is called into question over war crimes. Similarities between Lang and Tony Blair are clear from the start and there is repeated reference to his “special” relationship with the U.S. government and war in the Middle East. Pace gathers as the ghost writer realises that his predecessor had begun investigations of his own before his death and decides to follow the trail left for him.

Beautifully shot by Polanksi the island setting appears bleak and brooding. However despite good performances from Brosnan and Olivia Williams (playing his wife Ruth) and a tantalising revelation towards the close, the ending is limp, leaving far too many unanswered questions.

The Ghost is out now on general cinematic release.

2 out of 5 hot dogs.