directed by Roman Polanski
[filmography: Oliver Twist (2004), The Pianist (2002), The Ninth Gate (1999), Chinatown (1974), Rosemary's Baby (1968)]
written for the screen by Robert Harris [who also wrote book, The Ghost, which the film is based on] and Roman Polanski
ENJOYMENT: **1/2 (out of 5)
"Didn't like it so much, but on the fence"
I was excited to see this film for obvious reasons: Roman Polanski, Ewan McGregor, and the great reviews. However, I waited for it to be released on DVD, as there were no award shows coming up and I wasn't quite convinced enough to spend 10 bucks. So, I ordered The Ghost Writer on Netflix as soon as it came available and watch it to some delight. Here is what I thought. In a nut-shell, I thought it was average, which was a bit disappointing. However, critics liked it, so if you are at all interested, just see it--it wasn't terrible or anything.
PROS:
-The cinematography was absolutely gorgeous, encapsulating the gloomy and mysterious feel of the movie's plot.
-The opening scenes set the film up for what I thought could be a Da Vinci Code-esque (book, not the movie) or Shutter Island type mystery, which roused great interest in me. The movie opened with a set of peculiar circumstances, and continued for about a half an hour setting a scene that could quite possibly make for an interesting and surprising mystery.
-Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan were great, though not spectacular or anything, and Kim Cattrall was wonderful in a serious role.
-I enjoy mysteries--Silence of the Lambs, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Witness for the Prosecution, The Usual Suspects, etc.--so I got really excited to see what would happen in this movie, considering the specific circumstances.
PRO/CON:
-I kind of enjoyed the real-life parallels with current events, like a nation's leader being accused of war crimes and illegal interrogation techniques and treatment of terror suspects. However, this also contributed to making the film feel trite and only served as a novelty at first.
CONS:
PROS:
-The cinematography was absolutely gorgeous, encapsulating the gloomy and mysterious feel of the movie's plot.
-The opening scenes set the film up for what I thought could be a Da Vinci Code-esque (book, not the movie) or Shutter Island type mystery, which roused great interest in me. The movie opened with a set of peculiar circumstances, and continued for about a half an hour setting a scene that could quite possibly make for an interesting and surprising mystery.
-Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan were great, though not spectacular or anything, and Kim Cattrall was wonderful in a serious role.
-I enjoy mysteries--Silence of the Lambs, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Witness for the Prosecution, The Usual Suspects, etc.--so I got really excited to see what would happen in this movie, considering the specific circumstances.
PRO/CON:
-I kind of enjoyed the real-life parallels with current events, like a nation's leader being accused of war crimes and illegal interrogation techniques and treatment of terror suspects. However, this also contributed to making the film feel trite and only served as a novelty at first.
CONS:
-The number one thing that I didn't like about this film was that it was trite. I went in expecting a kind of film I'd never seen before, or that I hadn't seen for a long time, but it turned out being just like Inside Man (2006), or something else that had a lot of build up but little pay off. Nothing that I wanted to happen happened, and the things that did turned out to be disappointing.
-Olivia Williams (An Education (2009), and The Sixth Sense (1999)), who played the Prime Minister, Pierce Brosnan's, wife, was horribly miscasted. She was a suspicious character from the start, a bit awkward, and there was nothing likable or sexy about her. She was the number two thing I didn't like about this movie.
-The ending was... well, I don't much more than I already have so I'll leave it at this. The ending was a let down.
-Well, come to think about it, everything leading up to the ending was a let down too. In fact this movie was one big let down. Other than the few aforementioned pros.
AWARD PREDICTIONS: Best Cinematography at the Oscars, and nothing else :-)
-Olivia Williams (An Education (2009), and The Sixth Sense (1999)), who played the Prime Minister, Pierce Brosnan's, wife, was horribly miscasted. She was a suspicious character from the start, a bit awkward, and there was nothing likable or sexy about her. She was the number two thing I didn't like about this movie.
-The ending was... well, I don't much more than I already have so I'll leave it at this. The ending was a let down.
-Well, come to think about it, everything leading up to the ending was a let down too. In fact this movie was one big let down. Other than the few aforementioned pros.
AWARD PREDICTIONS: Best Cinematography at the Oscars, and nothing else :-)
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