Feeling the slow suspense of ‘The Ghost Writer’

Lang (Bronsan) chats with his Ghost (McGregor)

The movie: The Ghost Writer (not to be confused with “Ghostwriter,” the PBS television series about a bunch of young sleuths that solve mysteries with the aid of a friendly “ghost” that “writes”).

The director: Roman Polanski

Based on the novel by: Robert Harris

Adapted for screen by: The director and the novelist (that would be Polanski and Harris).

Famous people in the movie: Ewan McGregor, Kim Cattrall, Pierce Bronsan, Tom Wilkinson and Olivia Williams.

Past roles of the cast members that randomly popped into my head: Olivia Williams as Moira MacTaggart in X-Men: The Last Stand and Pierce Bronsan as Remington Steele.

The story: The title says it all: Ghost. Writer. McGregor plays a ghost writer who is referred throughout the movie as “the Ghost.” He is hired on by Adam Lang (Pierce Bronsan), a former British prime minister to help write his memoirs after his previous ghost writer mysteriously dies. McGregor’s character is shipped to Lang’s pompously modern beachside house in Massachusetts where Lang’s poker-faced assistant Amelia (Cattrall) puts him on lockdown with the top-secret manuscript. After Lang gets thrown into a cauldron of controversy with his possible involvement in war crimes, the ghost writer gets into a little pickle.

All about Mr. P: The film’s main attraction will probably be the man behind the camera. Seeing as though Polanski is in a pickle himself (and he apparently edited the film in jail), that would be a big draw to audiences. For others, they will go see it simply because it is a Polanski film.

What worked: The unfolding of the political/journalistic drama was deliberate, and of course, suspenseful. It was like peeling the layers away from an onion. You don’t necessarily like the raw smell, but if handled and prepared correctly, it could work. McGregor’s turn from boyish writer to boyish detective provides for a great character journey, with other characters and unfamiliar situations that whip him into shape along the way until he reaches his “WTF” salvation. Good for us; possibly bad for him.

It may have been to smart for me: Political thrillers are difficult to swallow, but with the modern Hitchcockian vibe pumping through the veins of the movie, it makes it easier. Even so, there were moments where I was gave the screen a blank look; acting like I knew what was going on. It took me a while to figure stuff out, but I eventually caught on. Forgive me. I tend to be slow.

Thank God for Wilkinson and Williams: As Lang’s domineering and suspicious wife, Olivia Williams lashes out with delight; while Wilkinson gives a collegiate performance as an “I don’t know what you’re talking about” suspect.

Cattrall’s accent reminded me of… That episode of Sex and the City where she faked an English accent to be a part of that exclusive pool club (Ginger Spice was in that episode too!)

Overall critique: I may be slow when it comes to political-type moves, but this one made sure that I attempted to care. It was decent enough. Grade: B-