ROMAN Polanski must be relieved to be off the news pages and into the arts section with political thriller The Ghost Writer.
Based on the novel The Ghost by former political journalist and Tony Blair associate Robert Harris, the story was clearly inspired by Blair’s involvement in the US ‘War on Terror’.
An unnamed writer (Ewan McGregor) takes the job of co-writing the memoirs of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (suave Pierce Brosnan). Unsettlingly, the former writer hired for the job drowned at sea before he could complete the task.
The writer jets off to Lang’s US hideaway on a drab, desolate island off the coast of Massachusetts to find the house in a state of crisis after public allegations Lang was behind the kidnapping and handing over to the CIA for torture of suspected Pakistani terrorists.
As well as the caddish Lang, the writer meets Lang’s wife Ruth (Olivia Williams), who is unhappy about Lang’s unsubtle affair with his assistant Amelia (Kim Cattrall).
Looking deeper into Lang’s early career, the writer begins to uncover signs of sinister conspiracies at work, while the death of the previous writer becomes increasingly suspicious.
Polanski does well in creating a tense, oppressive atmosphere as the writer increasingly suspects his own safety may be at risk.
Countering this is the glacial pace of the plot as it becomes mired in the muddy island landscape during the long middle act. The 128-minute running time seems about half an hour too long.
Cattrall – these days terminally typecast thanks to Sex and the City – may be looking to redress the situation with her serious role, but her inexpressive turn underwhelms.
McGregor’s acting has barely evolved over 15 years and familiarity has dulled his effectiveness. Better are Williams and reliable UK actor Tom Wilkinson.
Fortunately, a couple of big twists in the final act offer reward for perseverance.
Unfortunately, Harris drops the ball by letting the writer use Google to uncover an important facet of the conspiracy without questioning the information’s accuracy.
The Ghost Writer (MA15+)
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams
Rating: Three stars
Reviewed by: Christian Wilkinson