Scream Bloody Entertainment

“He, too, serves a certain purpose who only stands and cheers.” - Henry B. Adams

With the recent controversy surrounding Roman Polanski (which if you have not heard about, I suggest you look elsewhere, for it will not be mentioned here), a good amount of people have started viewing his work in a different light. It is unfortunate, though somewhat understandable. For me, however, Roman Polanski will always remain an icon in the film industry, and no matter what might happen in the future, that will never change. I find it unfair to condemn someone’s professional work due to their personal life and as such feel no shame to admit that I fully admire Roman Polanski and what he has achieved in his extensive career.

His most recent film, The Ghost Writer, stars Ewan McGregor as a ghostwriter who takes on the job of a lifetime by agreeing to complete the memoirs of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (played by Pierce Brosnan), but things start to take a turn for the worst once the ghostwriter begins to discover clues that may uncover a terrible truth. Even though the film is really slow-paced and contains a good amount of exposition, it is surprisingly entertaining and never really feels like a drag. More than anything else, The Ghost Writer is a full-fledged political thriller and Roman Polanski’s influence can be spotted from miles away.


Despite its dark themes and mystery elements, The Ghost Writer manages to remain curiously pleasant due to the occasional hints of humour, usually delivered by the protagonist. Remaining anonymous, much like his job, this fascinating character is drawn into a world of corruption and hidden secrets, yet he isn’t quite able to fully understand what he’s gotten himself into until the big reveal at the end. Polanski shows that he has not lost his touch by skillfully constructing a story that is easy to understand, despite its subtle political messages and hidden meanings.

As the audience, we closely follow the ghostwriter as he progressively discovers clues and gathers information regarding the big mystery behind it all. What makes things even more intriguing is that neither the protagonist nor the audience knows what exactly needs to be uncovered. The driving force of the film is the feeling that something is wrong—it dominates the movie from the start and keeps the story flowing, gives the film a purpose and maintains the viewers’ interest. The big reveal may not be entirely original on its own right and it is also slightly underwhelming, but the use of suspense and tension are what make it a winner.


The cast of the film does a great job all-around. While none of the performances are exactly Oscar-material, there are rarely any complaints to be made towards any of the actors. Ewan McGregor plays the leading role very well, portraying a character too oblivious for his own good, but equipped with a sense of humour that works wonders in some situations. Pierce Brosnan does a magnificent job as the Tony Blair inspired former Prime Minister and his performance is quite a change of heart from his usual ones. Also worth mentioning is a pleasant cameo appearance by Eli Wallach.

The Ghost Writer may not be a revolutionary thriller or a completely original one, but it’s a damn fine picture that delivers close to everything you could ask for from a film of its genre. Additionally, it also makes for quite an entertaining ride filled with little twists and turns and a story that unfolds with pitch-perfect pacing and flawless directing. Finally, The Ghost Writer ends in a spectacular manner, delivering a finale that is both memorable and surprisingly shocking—it concludes the enigma of the film and acts as an ultimate allusion to the man behind the curtain: Roman Polanski.