The Ghost Writer, Roman
Polanski’s film based on the Robert Harris novel The Ghost, is a very enjoyable thriller.
Harris is a master of the high concept thriller (I like Enigma best of his
earlier books) and this story draws heavily on his interest in the lives and
careers of his friends (but are they still friends, after this?) Tony and
Cherie Blair.
Ewan McGregor plays a
ghost writer who is hired for an enormous fee to do a rush job – sprucing up
the memoirs of a recent Prime Minister. He is flown out to meet the great man
(played by the ultra-charismatic Pierce
Brosnan), his wife (Olivia Williams) and his sexy aide – and mistress – a role
tailor-made for the stunning Kim Cattrall. But his predecessor has died in
mysterious circumstances, and soon the plot thickens.
I was surprised that
the story moved, for the most part, at a fairly slow pace, but it warms up
steadily and develops into a quite gripping story, especially when our hero
starts to discover clues to a sinister truth in the manuscript his predecessor
was working on at the time of his death.
Tom Wilkinson,
appearing late in the movie, plays a key part as a sinister professor with CIA
connections, and does his usual impressive job. I was also very taken with
Olivia Williams’ subtle portrayal of a wronged but manipulative wife. Overall,
a very enjoyable movie which I can recommend.
