The Ghost Writer – An E1 Films’ Release

http://www.TheGhostWriter-Movie.com/

DVD Release Date: August 3rd, 2010

Rated PG for mature theme, language may offend, and violence

Running time: 128 minutes

Roman Polanski (dir.)

Robert Harris (adaptation)

Roman Polanski (screenplay)

Based on the book The Ghost by Robert Harris

Alexandre Desplat (music)

Ewan McGregor as The Ghost

Jon Bernthal as Rick Ricardelli

Kim Cattrall as Amelia Bly

Pierce Brosnan as Adam Lang

Our reviews below:

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The Ghost Writer DVD Review By John C.

**** (out of 4)

The Ghost Writer is an expertly done thriller from veteran director Roman Polanski, that features an excellent sense of suspense that is worthy of Hitchcock.  British ex-Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) is a controversal figure.  Accused of enabling war crimes, and with his name all over the media, a book deal is in place to publish his memoirs.  When his ghost writer is found dead, a new “ghost” is hired, (Ewan McGregor), who has reason to believe that the initial author’s death may not have been an accident.  As ‘The Ghost’ races against time to uncover the secrets plaguing Lang’s memoirs, The Ghost Writer is both a murder mystery and politically charged thriller.

Although it is a thriller, there is only a brief flash of violence as the majority of the movie relies on dialogue, suspense and brilliant pacing.  It’s the little things that make it so powerful, like when a note is passed from hand to hand, or when we watch The Ghost uncovering information.  Action-driven sequences, like when a tail has to be lost in a car chase, are done classically with what we don’t see adding to the atmospheric setting.  Several scenes are done without dialogue, just scored beautifully by composer Alexandre Desplat.  This all leads up to a brilliant final few scenes, making The Ghost Writer one of the best movies of the year so far.

The DVD includes two featurettes, one with author/screenwriter Robert Harris and another with the cast & crew, as well as an interview with director Roman Polanski.  In all, it’s about half-an-hour of fascinating behind-the-scenes insight.

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The Ghost Writer DVD Review By Erin V.

**** (Out of 4)

Based on the novel ‘The Ghost’ by Robert Harris, Roman Polanski’s latest film is about a man (Ewan McGregor) who is assigned to ghostwrite the memoirs of a former UK Prime Minister (Pierce Brosan) after the original ghostwriter mysteriously washes up dead on a beach.  I won’t give anything else away, since I recommend you watch it for yourself.

Like a modern-day Hitchcock film, The Ghost Writer strikes the right balance of suspense and mystery up to the final reveal.  Alexandre Desplat’s hauntingly beautiful score too, is reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann’s music for North By Northwest.

From the acting to the cinematography, everything about The Ghost Writer worked, creating a masterpiece of cinema.  For me, this is one of the best of the year, and I look forward to seeing it again.

The disc also includes 3 featurettes on the film.  All very informative, they include interviews with Robert Harris, the cast, as well as Roman Polanski.  I would definitely recommend checking them out after viewing the film.

Read my in-depth thoughts on the score here.

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The Ghost Writer DVD Review By Nicole

***1/2 (out of 4)

Based on the novel The Ghost by Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer is an intriguing film about secrets, scandal, and politics.  A ghost writer (Ewan McGregor), is hired to write a memoir of controversial former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan).  The ghost writer is given a rough manuscript from another ghost writer, who had mysteriously drowned before the book’s completion.  As the current ghost writer gets to know both Adam Lang and his wife Ruth (Olivia Williams), he slowly uncovers a huge secret that could change everything.

The Ghost Writer, while a little slow-moving at times, leads up to a shocking conclusion.  The acting is really good, and the script is very strong.  The subdued colour palate, and the suspenseful score by Alexandre Desplat adds to the mysterious mood of the film.  The Ghost Writer is an intriguing film that you should add to your collection.

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The Ghost Writer DVD Review By Maureen

***1/2 (out of 4)

The Ghost Writer is an incredibly suspenseful thriller.  Based on the novel The Ghost by Robert Harris the story is brought to life by veteran director Roman Polanski.  The tone and feel of the movie is reminiscent of some of Alfred Hitchcock’s best works.  The attention to detail, the carefully placed clues, the cinematography and the amazing score by Alexandre Desplat  all add up to a really good mystery.

Essentially, the story is about a fictitious former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) who is writing his memoirs with the help of a ghost writer.  His original ghost writer is found washed up on the beach so a second ghost (Ewan McGregor) is brought in to complete the project.  The new ghost senses something isn’t right and is never sure who is an ally.  Can he trust Lang’s assistant Amelia Bly (Kim Catrall) or Lang’s wife Ruth (Olivia Williams)?  Things get even more mysterious when former P.M. Lang is accused of involvement with the torture of war prisoners in the Middle East.  The answers lie in the manuscript.

The tension in every scene is amazing.  The subtle turn of a head, a caretaker sweeping leaves, a cook bringing a snack all have the viewer asking, “is that significant?”  When the mystery is finally resolved the viewer is rewarded with an ending scene that is shocking but fitting.

The Ghost Writer is one of the better movies of 2010.  This is a really good story.  The acting is excellent throughout and everything works together perfectly.  The DVD also has really interesting interviews with Roman Polanski and author/screenwriter Robert Harris that give insight into what makes this movie work so well.

If you missed this one in theatres now is your chance to check out this really good mystery film.  If you did see it in theatres, it’s worth a second look on DVD.

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The Ghost Writer DVD Review By Tony

**** (out of 4)

The Ghost Writer is a political thriller based on the book The Ghost by Robert Harris and directed by Roman Polanski. Ewan McGregor is the (otherwise unnamed) Ghost hired to complete the memoir of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) left incomplete by another writer suspiciously found dead on a beach.  As allegations of Lang’s complicity in CIA rendition of prisoners swirls around them, the Ghost finds himself in danger as he uncovers evidence about Lang, his wife Ruth (Olivia Williams), personal assistant Amelia (Kim Cattrall), and others from Lang’s past.

Reminiscent of the best Hitchcock films, Polanski has worked out every detail of The Ghost Writer to perfection, not least the minimalist score by Alexandre Desplat intensifying the suspense with its driving ostinati. The supporting cast is all excellent, with cameos from some of our greatest actors, such as (94 year old) Eli Wallach. The actual locations in this European production include a seaside location in France and Polanski’s Swiss base.

The DVD includes three fine featurettes, each about 10 minutes.  In the first, the author admits to the Hitchcock influence on his work, and how it is loosely based on reality.  In the second, the main cast members provide interesting insights into the story, along with the usual praise for the director, particularly well-deserved here. The third features Polanski himself discussing the production, revealing for example that the seaside house was designed and built from scratch on a sound stage.

Simply brilliant in every way, The Ghost Writer is one of the year’s best films so far.

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Consensus: The Ghost Writer is an expertly done thriller from veteran director Roman Polanski.  Featuring a beautiful score from composer Alexandre Desplat, there is a perfectly balanced sense of suspense in every scene, making this a film worthy of Alfred Hitchcock. ***3/4 (Out of 4)