A few weeks ago, I reviewed Robert Harris’ stylish thriller, The Ghost. Yesterday, I saw the movie based on Harris’ novel, The Ghost Writer, directed by Roman Polanski. Ewan McGregor is hired to ghost-write the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, obviously based on Tony Blair. Pierce Brosnan plays the ex-Prime Minister with panache. Olivia Williams plays Brosnan’s quirky wife, and Kim Cattrall is Brosnan’s personal assistant–and more. As McGregor finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into Brosnan’s political crisis, he finds critical information that changes everything. The Ghost Writer follows Harris’ book faithfully, until the ending. Polanski opts for a more dramatic ending that was fine by me. The Ghost Writer isn’t Chinatown, but it’s the most clever thriller you’re likely to see this year. GRADE: A
I just read teh book (which was good) and haven’t seen this yet.
My question is about the casting. In the book, the implication is that the ghost is a few years younger than Lang (or at least that’s how I read it). Brosnan is 56 and McGregor 39.
More seriously, isn’t Amelia a lot younger than the former PM? Cattrall is 53.
With the changes to the story, the age factor is pretty much eliminated, Jeff. Brosnan (56) and Cattrall (53) make sense as lovers. Brosnan and McGregor are only on the screen together for five minutes (if that).
I was pretty sure they’d change the ending.
Polanski has a flare for the dramatic, Bill. The book’s ending is powerful, but a bit passive. The movie’s ending fits nicely into Polanski’s view of the world.
I am perhaps the only person on earth that didn’t much like it. It just felt draggy for the first half to me. Phil loved it. He says I lack an appreciation of that genre, don’t see the nuances of it. Perhaps that’s true. Also I never seem to like Ewan McGregor performances much. But based on the 20 people I know that loved it, see it.
I’m with Phil, Patti. It takes some time to set up the complicated plot, but once it’s in motion the suspense is terrific.
I just checked a local review, which said Ewan McGregor’s “fine performance” helps make up for some slack pacing, so I guess you’re both right.
You’re not going to find a more convoluted plot than THE GHOST WRITER, Jeff. It takes Polanski some time to set the action up, but once the plot gets rolling, I found the suspense quite intense.