Drew's

Date Reviewed	3/5/2010
Title	The Ghost Writer
Rating
Directed By :	Roman Polanski
Starring :	Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, Timothy Hutton, Jon Bernthal, Tom Wilkinson and Eli Wallach
Review	Ewan McGregor stars as a writer of memoirs aptly called the Ghost. His latest assignment pays large dollars because it involves the completion of the former British Prime Minister’s book. He’s replacing a writer that recently died of murder, suicide or accidental death. McGregor’s character is not familiar with political figures or their careers. This makes him a terrific neutral source for cleaning up or finishing the six hundred page cure for insomnia. Pierce Brosnan has the role of BPM Adam Lang, a stage actor that went into politics because of his fondness for the ladies, attention and liquid refreshments. Just as the new project begins for the newest Ghost, Lang is under scrutiny for torturing potential terrorist captives. “The Ghost Writer” is a mystery wrapped inside lies and smiles. Olivia Williams co-stars as Lang’s wife Ruth. Kim Cattrall steps outside her “Sex & the City” fame to play Lang’s personal assistant Amelia. Her accent is noticeably different from her most popular character. No matter how much or little screen time you can offer Tom Wilkinson, it’s best to get him in your movie. He joins the elusive game as an influential Professor. Timothy Hutton has a bit part as Lang’s attorney Sidney Kroll. Seeing James Belushi surface as a publishing mogul is a slight big screen shock since he’s Mr. American sitcom. Who knows why Belushi and Cattrall received the call for a Roman Polanski flick? Rumor has it that Polanski wasn’t allowed to attend his own screening due to his off the movie set personal problems. The Ghost becomes more involved as he attempts to uncover the past that lead to Lang in politics, the prior death of the expired memoir novelist and the circumstances surrounding war crime accusations. Ewan McGregor is excellent as a writer turned sleuth. His soft demeanor as a calm curious collector of information offers credibility as an outsider thrust into the inner circle against his better judgment. His character shares too much verbal content with those hardly known and questionably trusted. Brosnan does what he always does well. He’s a mild form of his Remington Steele character with a bullshitters grin, debonair wardrobe and smooth sounding delivery. Polanski too, like the recent Scorsese picture, pays homage to Hitchcock with layers of slowly revealed facts, rainy action sequences and attractive fairly desolate scenery. The bigger difference is that this feature keeps you guessing until the end with an excellent finale. “The Ghost Writer” is an intriguing movie with unpleasant political and human results. Drew's Reviews, copyright 2010, Drewsmoviereviews.com, property of Drew Bean.