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The Ghost Writer |  | Director: Roman Polanski
Actors: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.99
Buy Used: $6.29
as of 9/9/2010 11:02 CDT details
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Rating:  78 reviews
Sales Rank: 412
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Genre: mystery-and-suspense
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 128 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: SUMD66114628D
UPC: 025192067501
EAN: 0025192067501
ASIN: B0036TGSR6
Theatrical Release Date: February 19, 2010
Release Date: August 3, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
When a gifted ghostwriter is hired to write the memoirs of former british prime minister adam lang he quickly finds himself trapped in a web of political & sexual intrigue. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (summit) Release Date: 08/03/2010 Starring: Ewan Mcgegor Kim Cattrall Run time: 128 minutes Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com
Oscar-winning director Roman Polanksi (The Pianist) teams up with author-screenwriter Robert Harris (Enigma) for this twisty political thriller. Ewan McGregor plays an unnamed ghostwriter who signs on to pen the memoirs of former British prime minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan). The money is good, but there's a catch: the ghost's predecessor perished under mysterious circumstances (his body washed up on the shore in an apparent suicide). Being the adventurous sort, the ghost puts that information aside and travels to Lang's austere compound on Martha's Vineyard, where he meets Lang's efficient personal secretary, Amelia (Kim Cattrall, good but for an inconsistent accent), and acerbic wife, Ruth (An Education's Olivia Williams). Just as he's wading through Lang's dull text, the PM's ex-cabinet minister accuses him of handing over suspected terrorists to the CIA, fully aware that torture would be on the agenda. The next thing the ghost knows, he's working for a possible war criminal, and the deeper he digs, the more convinced he becomes that Lang is lying about his past. After exchanging a few words with a sharp-eyed old man (Eli Wallach) and a tight-lipped professor (Tom Wilkinson), he realizes his life may also be at risk. Then, while Lang hits the road to proclaim his innocence, the ghost gets to know Ruth better--much better. If the conclusion feels a little glib, Polanksi tightens the screws with skill, McGregor enjoys his best role in years, and Williams proves she's fully prepared to carry a movie of her own. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 78
 The Ghost Writer (Blu-ray) September 8, 2010
Tony Khamvongsouk (Frisco, TX)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Movie - 4.5
I know the name Roman Polanski, but I'm embarrassed to say this is only the first film of his I've ever seen. My curiosity for this movie was nudged after hearing his name and the names of some very fine actors being involved, namely: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, and Tom Wilkinson. In watching The Ghost Writer, I had gone in expecting some sort of political thriller along the lines of State of Play (the last political thriller I saw and really, really liked); something with a lot of twists, turns, and deception from every which way until a shocking resolution was reached. Instead, I was completely surprised with a good deal of British charm, wit, and whimsicality involved, and then a little dazzle in the discovery of one Mr. Polanski's talent. The Ghost Writer is, indeed, a thriller that managed to captivate and keep me guessing what would happen next, but in a very odd manner. Usually, when watching political thrillers, or thrillers in general, I've always had this "expectancy of complexity" factor in which I just about always expected the unexpected to happen, and often. But in experiencing this film, I was surprised at how it achieved the same effect, though in much less flashy theatrics and writing. From the very beginning, we know someone is dead, this ghost is assigned to finish the memoirs of a controversial former Prime Minister, and that things just logically snowball deeper and deeper into conspiracy. However, what surprised me the most was at how well-ground and down-to-earth the screenplay felt. It was very simple in nature, and not at all what I was expecting, and yet I couldn't help but become more and more intrigued by the mysteries that lied therein until everything came to revelation, and the movie was over just as the symbolism of the ghost implies. If Polanski was always this good, then I apologize up-front that I never bothered to discover him in the first place. The drama, sleuthing, and pacing were very enjoyable.
Video - 5.0
You wouldn't think a political thriller would make for much reference-level material, but don't let the generalization fool you. The Ghost Writer looks stunning on BD with a perfect transfer whose simplicity in writing is as deceptively commendable as its photography. Colors offer a wide selection of vibrancy throughout the various locations, sets, and costumes. And as plain as they are, flawless picture reproduction is still flawless. Black levels are deep and equally without fault, providing for some excellent foreshadowing as the film progresses. And speaking of shadows, line/shadow delineation is some of the best I've seen in recent memory (in relation to recent films). There were parts of the movie when McGregor would be sitting and reading in the dark, and the level of depth between his silhouette, the shadows behind him, and the natural lighting from the screen were ridiculously accurate and separated from one another. Contrast and lighting benefit from this very much as well, as apparent in the very fine skin and cloth detail from the gray hairs on Brosnan's head, to the fibers of a bath robe, to the stretch (or plastic surgery) marks on Kim Cattrall's body (have to say, though, she looks pretty good for 54). Sharpness is razor sharp and presents the overall photography with a kind of subtlety worthy of Blu-ray and the hype that comes along with its label of "pristine picture." This is definitely a winner, and should get at least an Oscar nomination for cinematography.
Audio - 4.5
Again, political thrillers don't usually instill that, "wow, that's going to sound awesome," kind of feeling, but this movie just kept surprising me. Dialogue sounds perfect through the center and all (don't know how anyone can screw that up), and the script/acting come off very well to help the carry the plot. My biggest surprise, though, is in the score. Alexandre Desplat's compositions completely caught me off guard. They're not bad or anything, but the instrumentation and overall ambiance just really kept me into the film for some reason. It'd be something tense and suspenseful at one moment with a bunch of strings, and then all of a sudden transition into an almost goofy set of drums, woodwinds, and brass that, strangely, still had the right sense of setting a tone. I really don't know how to explain the feeling I got from his work, but it seemed off, yet oddly satisfying. As for sound effects, a lot of it is left to a particular kind of ambiance as well. The effects are relatively just there in the background, like cars driving on gravel, rainfall, ocean waves, the wind, or various creaks and taps on the furniture, but it makes for a great mix, regardless of their frivolities. I think my subwoofer went to standby once or twice from the inactivity of LFEs, so that should be pretty self-explanatory. For a film like this, though, you don't really need them.
Extras - 3.5
Not a whole lot of special features here other than an interview with the author of the original novel, Robert Harris (who is also the screenwriter for the film), interviews with the four main actors in what they thought about working with Polanski, and then an interview with Polanski himself, all of which are presented in HD. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that, while the extras themselves don't amount to much in terms of quantity (just under 30 minutes), I still very much enjoyed the quality of them, mainly because this is the only thing I've ever come to see or hear about in relation to Roman Polanski and the notoriety that comes with his name as a director. From what I've heard about him, I get this image that he's a highly-renowned and very well-respected director that's something of an icon in the industry. And after hearing these comments about him, I'd even go to say the general consensus is to call him a sort of living legend. From his demeanor and the quality of work shown in this film, I can certainly see why he's earned a lot of this praise, and I'm very curious to play catchup on his career now. With that being said, I thought the extras also helped to add a decent amount of depth to the characters, plot, and filming process, though obviously they could've been longer or more fully-explained. I also would've loved to have heard an audio commentary by Polanski and Harris for the film, but too bad, I guess. Despite these shortcomings, I was pleased to be enlightened about Polanski's image in general.
Overall - 4.5
The Ghost Writer certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea. It's a thriller, yes, but it's nowhere near as fancy or flashy as a gangster, cop, or espionage entry into the genre. It's a much more simplistic, logical, almost humdrum kind of thriller filled with witty characters and tout dialogue, but could still be entertaining if you're in to this type of film. I'd never seen a Polanski film till now, but I'm proud to say I'm damn curious to see some more. With reference video, near-reference audio, and a pretty short, though very informative, set of extras (for me, anyway), I highly recommend this BD for fans of the movie. Others may want to give it a rent to see if it fits their preferences, first.
 Second-Tier Polanski September 7, 2010
Scott T. Rivers (Los Angeles, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Director Roman Polanski has crafted a stylish yet astonishingly predictable thriller based on Robert Harris' topical 2007 novel. Despite the familiar twists and turns, a strong cast and Polanski's formidable skill maintain interest. "The Ghost Writer" does not rank with the filmmaker's best work, yet it is miles ahead of earlier misfires such as "Frantic" and "Bitter Moon." Worth seeing for Ewan McGregor's compelling performance in the title role.
Polanski's Polemic Marches On September 6, 2010
Hikari (Lima, OH USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Roman Polanski hates America. Really hates it. Which is a bit of an ingrate attitude, seeing as America has given him so many opportunities to direct films in Hollywood, using American stars. Thanks to America, Roman Polanski is an internationally-famous auteur, and not just a regional European product. Mr. Polanski is also internationally-infamous for his conviction of statuatory rape of an American 13-year-old, on American soil, and that more than anything, explains his anti-American bias. Even if he does like to dress up his personal vendetta in 'political' clothing. Quite a way to treat a country who's been so good to him and who was instrumental in creating the nation of Israel. Go figure.
The film is an adaptation of 'The Ghost' by Robert Harris, the screenplay of which Polanski co-wrote with the author. So, the political ideas herein are not solely Polanski's, but seeing as Harris shares Roman's anti-American bias, it becomes easy to see why Polanski would have been drawn to this project. You've probably heard the plot: a talented ghost writer between jobs (Ewan McGregor--in the style of "Rebecca" our main protagonist is never given a name) is hired as a last-minute replacement for another ghost writer whose body washed up on the beach while working on the memoirs of the former British Prime Minister, Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan). Despite misgivings, our ghost takes the job, only to be immediately mugged by thugs who think he is carrying the manuscript. The manuscript is kept under lock and key at the PM's palatial compound on Montauk, to which our ghost goes. He has to stay at the house because the manuscript is not permitted to leave the room it's kept in. While he's there working, strange undercurrents swirl around him in the house, and the story breaks in the international media that a former cabinet minister of the PM has accused him of war crimes for his complicity in Iraqi torture. The ghost soon discovers that by continuing work on this project, there is a very good chance he will share his predecessor's fate. But what he, and we don't understand is, why? What is in the PM's past, buried deep in his memoir, that people will kill in order to keep it hidden?
Now, I will give credit where credit is due: no one excels Polanski in the tension-building set-up, or in creating an atmosphere of increasingly-ratcheted up suspense. As in his Frantic (1988) with Harrison Ford, he puts a guy who is professionally accomplished yet politically naive into a sinister situation where he is completely out of his element, and turns him loose to see how he will cope. The creepy visual effects of the gray winter beach and sky outside the PM's sterile, modern house that seems entirely made of glass create this sense of forboding and opressive isolation that serves the story well. And, in whatever capacity the director deserves credit for these things, he ellicits terrific perfomances from his cast. Ewan McGregor anchors the movie, since he's in every scene. The character McGregor gives us here goes against his usual charismatic and self-confident type: something of a lost and passive man who is just drifting along with events, but watching him carry this movie, and seeing the physicality he has developed convinces me that the rumors that he was considered a leading contender for the reboot of the James Bond franchise aren't as far-fetched as previously thought. Pierce Brosnan, best known as an affable light comedian and action star really displays his dramatic chops as the embattled PM. Here, Brosnan is portraying a man who is considered, though telegenic and popular, a political lightweight, an 'actor' rather than a serious political mind. Mr. Brosnan may have found some parallels between his character and himself: in drama school, the impossibly handsome Pierce was affectionately lampooned by his fellow classmates with the nickname "Hollywood"--everyone predicted, rightly, that his looks would make him a huge star, but on the flip side, nobody is willing to take anyone that good looking seriously, or give them credit for more than superficial ambitions. Guess Mr. Brosnan has been able to have his cake and eat it too, thereby proving that he is more than just a pretty face. It is impossible not to draw parallels between his fictional Adam Lang and Tony Blair, who despite being beloved for pulling his nation through the Princess Diana crisis and being elected a resounding three times by his fellow Britons, is in hindsight treated by the media intelligentsia (of which Polanski and Harris are part) with withering scorn as some sort of lapdog to two American presidents. The American government and the CIA are supposed to be the real baddies here. McGregor and Brosnan are supported by a cadre of reliable actors doing the kinds of parts they do best, most notably Tom Wilkinson and Olivia Williams. Kim Cattrall (aka Samantha on SATC) plays the PM's efficient secretary and not-so-secret mistress. She looks great, but whatever accent she's attempting drifts in and out making her something of a caricature.
As strictly a piece of suspense, The Ghost Writer delivers a moody, mostly effective thriller, though portions of it could be tighter. I dozed off a time or two before things really got going. But ultimately it's impossible to divorce the action from the political subtext, and there are so many holes in the logic that the piece sinks under the weight of its own self-importance. Had this been made a generation ago, in the height of Cold War paranoia, it would have seemed to have a bit more heft. At the final reveal, we are left going . . .Is THAT it? Really? In the end, Polanski's final card, which he seems to slap down on the table with an "A HA!" falls flat because it doesn't even make sense. Just prior to that, there is a stunt involving an anagram of sorts that was put to much more chilling use in "Rosemary's Baby" with Scrabble tiles. To trot out a similar device again feels tired, and in this case is dramatically flabby.
In the final analyisis of this movie, I can't say that Mr. Polanski will have won himself any new friends in the American government who are already none too fond of him, but that the British government has an even greater reason to be ticked off with Roman. Apparently Mr. Polanski does not have a high opinion of Great Britain either. Which makes him a darling in France, certainment!
I found this disappointing after having looked forward to it for quite a while. It earns 4 stars for the production design, but on the whole, only a three-star effort.
 TRUTH IN FICTION? September 6, 2010
Robin Simmons (Palm Springs area, CA United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This controversial thriller and murder mystery implies that a certain former British prime minister had a very big, explosive secret. Some readers of the Robert Harris novel think it's based on true events. Whatever you think of Roman Polanski, his film adaptation does nothing to remove the aura of a real life secret exposed. This is old school filmmaking at it's best. Ewan McGregor is a ghostwriter assigned to go to an isolated estate along New England's east coast and write the memoirs of the secluded Adam Lang (Pierce Bronson). The ambitious writer is quickly seduced by the power of sex and politics as the shocking story he uncovers becomes deadly. I liked this solid suspenser that many film goers overlooked.
As of this writing, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair autobiography was just released. It's VERY interesting reading the reviews and interviews with Blair and then seeing this roman a clef that seems, in many ways, more truth than fiction.
Ghost Writer September 5, 2010
Brian Boudreaux (Westwego, La. United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent movie. Would recommend you to watch it. Very good suspenseful movie. Keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 78
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