Tuesday, February 23, 2010

cosmopolitan composition

Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer" is a companionable thriller of some intellectual weight, elegantly bathed by cinematographer Pawel Edelman in the same soft blue of a Sapphire Gin bottle and ever-so-subtly driven by Alexandre Desplat's tinkly score. This is Hitchcock - updated, yes, but not at all compromised.

Ewan McGregor (above & below) is first-rate as the titular writer recruited to ghost the memoirs of a former British prime minister, essayed by an even better Pierce Brosnan, game as always. Of course, dangerous secrets and threats are uncovered.

Polanski nudges a superior cast - Kim Cattrall, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton, the odd couple of Jim Belushi and Eli Wallach and, oh, particularly Olivia Williams - towards seemless ensemble performances.

The haunting chill of this singlar, enigmatic film stays with you.

3 comments:

Brad said...

Excellent film. I found it not only suspenseful and intelligent, but also moving, funny, and attentive to its characters and their environment.

joe baltake said...

Great post, Brad; I like your insight. And I agree with your assessment of Polanski's storytelling skills in "The Ghost Writer."

Michael said...

I just saw "The Ghost Writers" - fine film - and was struck by the stylistic and thematic connection between the film and the man who made it. Very interesting.