A Classic Mystery with a Surprise Ending

Roman Polanski’s latest film is a mystery thriller that views as if Hitchcock himself is behind the camera lens setting up the shots. The intriguing story has twists and turns that grabs your attention throughout. Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge! 2001) stars as ‘The Ghost,’ a handsomely paid second writer of the Prime Minister, Adam Lang played by (Pierce Bronson) memoires. The setting is a secluded home on the American Eastern seaboard with heightened security similar to Fort Knox where the Prime Minister, his wife, and staff are residing during his U.S. lecture tour. 

The film is based on the novel penned by British author Robert Harris; a former BBC journalist and newspaper writer for The Sunday Times & The Daily Telegraph. Polanski and Harris collaborated on the screenplay of this highly successful book. Filming locations were Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Due to Polanski’s personal troubles in the U.S., he stayed in Europe during the scouting and filming of the exteriors which are actually in Martha’s Vineyard.

The beginnings of ‘Ghost Writer’ start in British offices with Big Ben chiming in the background. The candid negotiations for the writing of the book are comical and captivating. Rick (Jon Bernthal) plays the young aggressive American literary agent to ‘The Ghost’— he’s unnamed both in the film and in the novel. He’s interviewed by U.S. publishing exec John Maddox (a shockingly bald James Belushi) and Lang's Washington attorney, Sidney Kroll (Timothy Hutton). ‘The Ghost’ is hired on the spot for a month's work with an astounding salary of $250k. Raising suspicion of this project from the start is the mugging of “The Ghost’ which happens soon after the meeting as his manuscript is stolen. 

Upon arrival to the secluded fortress on an island with no way in or out other than by ferry, ‘The Ghost’ meets Kim Cattrall of Sex and the City fame, who co-stars as Bronson’s seductive chief of staff. She’s also the keeper of the Prime Minister’s covenanted autobiographic manuscript penned by the first ghostwriter. From the get-go, there’s a mystery surrounding the suicide of the ghost author # 1 and the new ghost becomes curious about the details and begins to investigate on his own.

‘The Ghost’ soon discovers that the past of Adam Lang is not so squeaky clean and begins to unravel a secret history that involves his attractive wife, Ruth Lang,  played by Olivia Williams, (The Sixth Sense 1999) who’s also Lang’s political muse. He also views a news report that Lang may have a role in the alleged ‘torture flights’ that link him to the Hatherton company. With political controversy swirling, ‘The Ghost’ switches gears and goes into 'Sherlock Holmes' mode. Clearly in over his head, the film guides us through an amateur sleuth’s quest on a mystery that seems to have many dead ends and narrow escapes.

The cinematography eerily casts shades of grays and blues and the non-stop torrential rain adds to the gloomy, mysterious tone. The musical score by the talented Alexandre Desplat—a name by now you’ve undoubtedly heard or at least recognize–– is suspenseful and noteworthy. 

‘The Ghost’ may have begun to go ‘stir crazy’ in the fishbowl of a home or needed some exercise, we’re not really sure, as he ventures out on the island riding a bicycle. During an apparent storm, he meets a very strange old man played by Eli Wallach. ‘The Ghost’ learns that the first ghostwriter’s body could not have been washed upon the shore where it was found as he’s informed about the true nature of  the wind currents on the island. Later, Ruth finds him on the other side of the island and urges him to come back to the house as the storm is getting rough. ‘The Ghost’ decides to trust lonely Ruth and confides in her. Next, they’re in bed together and Ruth seduces ‘The Ghost’ while the Prime Minister is away.

Clearly confused at this new state of personal affairs, ‘The Ghost’ quickly leaves the fortress and checks into a local hotel on the island where he immediately encounters further strange incidents. This mysterious theme continues until the dramatic conclusion of the film which is shockingly perfect.

Bottom-line, a tremendous thriller that keeps you guessing; the directing, tone and script all fit together well in this puzzle of a film.

Sarah Adamson © February 2010