If this glove fits, tell your friends to go see "The Ghost Writer."
Are there any among you ancient enough to remember the fun of going to the
movies in the mid-century? The cartoon, the newsreel (where else could we
actually see the news), the short subject, the previews? But above all, movies
changed three times a week and likely as not you might luck into a suspense
thriller. If this glove fits, tell your friends to go see "The Ghost Writer."
Nowadays,
attempts at suspense are usually accompanied by blaring music and primary colors
that lead to an eruption of gunfire and blood. This isn't suspense; it's shock.
"The Ghost Writer" is a jumble of sorts. It's co-writer and director, Roman
Polanski, did his share of the work while in jail and then under house arrest in
Switzerland. Because he can't come to the U.S. without being arrested here, the
film was shot in Germany where they built the main set - the beach house -
entirely in the studio. Ocean and beaches are delivered by green screen.
Martha's Vineyard in Berlin.
Former Prime
Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) is wintering in that summer resort (don't
ask why). The ghost writer who was collaborating on Lang's memoir has washed up
on a beach. A replacement must be hired to tweak the rather dull first draft.
The prize is a ten million dollar advance from Rhinehart, Inc., New York
publisher. The job is won by a somewhat disheveled young man referred to only as
"Ghost" (Ewan McGregor). Even before he can unpack, the trouble begins. The
evening news announces that Adam Lang has been accused of kidnapping terrorists
and delivering them to CIA for questioning and torture. The world court plans an
indictment.
Instead of
suspense by explosions and crashes, we are given clues to ponder while an
occasional brass instrument plays a single tone that grows in intensity until
finally it ends in revelation or resolution. This is suspense, the old fashioned
way. In a terrific opening that wastes no motions, we accompany Ghost by big
plane, little plane, and ferry to his new job. In the winter rain, the beach
house resembles a white concrete bunker against white sand. Ghost meets Adam
Lang, Adam's bitter wife Ruth (Olivia Williams), Lang's assistant, Amelia (Kim
Cottrell) who is sleeping with the boss, and a slew of characters in various
shades of shadow - any one of whom - Agatha Christie fashion - could be the
villain. I don't dwell on performances here because most are just fine. It's the
plot that counts in this one.
Settle in and
follow the clues in this story of dark betrayal. Watch for a particularly clever
twist involving GPS and a sublime note passing episode that would have made
Hitchcock proud. The filmmakers cobbled the pieces together to accommodate
Polanski's exile, and it's not by any means seamless. But the man is a story
teller in the best sense of things, and it's great fun to get lost in the
intrigues.
Copyright (c) Illusion