He can't drown two ghost writers, for God's sake. You're not kittens.

The Ghost

(2010)

Distractingly titled, Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel actually concerns a ghostwriter (Ewan McGregor) hired to compile the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan).

The slow-burn claustrophobia here put me very much in mind of earlier France-based Polanski fare like Frantic and The Ninth Gate. Being conscious of where he shoots his films makes it more difficult to believe America is America (I had that problem with Eyes Wide Shut too) but, that aside, I really enjoyed this, an assured piece of work replete with the director’s hallmark paranoia and unease.

McGregor's generally watchable, but he somehow slipped into a place where he never really seems to stretch himself following his career-making turns in early Danny Boyle films. Pierce Brosnan, and particularly Olivia Williams, are excellent.

****

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Now In Full Color, with a Happier Ending

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