Former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) is writing his memoirs, and the job is nearly completed when his ghost writer, a former aide, is found washed up on the shore near Lang’s Martha’s Vineyard hideaway.  It is unclear if it was suicide, or death by misadventure, though the toxicology reports indicate that the ghost writer’s blood alcohol level was through the roof.  So Lang’s publisher calls in a new ghost.

The new ghost writer (Ewan McGregor), here-forth to be referred to as the Ghost, at first believes himself to be wrong for the job, but the publishers want him, and when they offer him a ton of money, he finds himself unable to turn it down.  His agent is enthusiastic.  Upon leaving the meeting with publisher, Lang’s American attorney (Timothy Hutton) gives him what he thinks is a copy of the top secret manuscript.  The Ghost is mugged outside his apartment building, and the manuscript is stolen.  The lost property was a decoy, and the Ghost is left wondering what exactly he has gotten himself into.  His worries double before he departs for across the pond when it breaks on the news that Lang’s former foreign secretary, Richard Rycart, leaks it to the press that Lang authorized the kidnap and torture of terrorist suspects in conjunction with the CIA.

When the Ghost arrives at Lang’s American compound to get the memoirs in working condition in four weeks time, he realizes his work will be harder than he previously thought.  His late predecessor has the first draft, but the Ghost comments, “All the words are there, they’re just in the wrong order.”  He has to punch it up a bit.  Lang’s personal secretary/not-so-secret-lover, Amelia Bly, informs the Ghost that the confidential manuscript cannot leave the house, he can only work on it there.  The Ghost is also called upon to draft a response for Lang concerning the news that the International Criminal Court will be investigating Lang for war crimes over the torture of the terror suspects.  As Bly informs the Ghost, he’s an accomplice now.


As the Ghost sets about to shape Lang’s memoirs into something readable, he discovers some inconsistencies.  He also discovers some facts that the former ghost writer learned that may point to his death being foul play.  As a local man tells him, the currents could not have washed the body that far down shore, and it is a strange coincedence that the little old lady who saw lights out there on the beach the night before the body was found is now in a coma.

The Ghost Writer was directed and co-adapted by Roman Polanski and it is one pleasant little mystery movie.  It’s no Chinatown, but this is a nice, rainy day, diversion.  There are some comic touches that elevate the material, drawing attention away from the fact that this political thriller really has nothing to say about politics; it just entertains, and that’s quite alright.  Some of the performances are uneven, and I think Kim Cattrall as Bly was miscast.  She’s adequate.  Olivia Williams, a wonderful actress, is given the most unbalanced character in the film, that of Lang’s wife, and she is difficult to pin down, but maybe that’s for the best.

If parts had been thought through better (shouldn’t Lang have had better security?) this would have been a perfect motion picture.

4 out of 5
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