Very well executed

To me, this movie is perfection.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Writing memoirs is not always a popular activity for all the people that have the potential of being mentioned therein, especially when they have something to hide. If it is a high-end politician like a British Ex-premier, who is writing the memoirs, then even state secrets may be at risk and for a potential ghostwriter involved the whole matter may become a dangerous thing when trying to bind together the loose end of the notes.How dangerous we get to know as the movie slowly evolves into a political thriller about war crimes. Soon it becomes obvious that the first ghostwriter did not die accidentally and that his successor better should not have accepted the financially highly attractive offer to finish off the work of his predecessor. The new ghost, played by Ewan McGregor, however is not easy to alarm but in some ways he is acting a bit naive, too naive as it turns out in the very end. Has he in the end be blinded by the fact that the real enemy is the person he has slept with? This naivety may be one of the weak points of the movie but I see it as a means to make the story work. If you compare this to the invulnerability of many other film protagonists I rather go with this attitude. According to me, the lack of such rather unrealistic action scenes is a strength of the movie and the suspense, which the film definitely has, comes more from a Hitchcock-like atmosphere of distrustful and mysterious behaviour. This atmosphere is well supported by the almost clinical interior of the beach house, where the new Ghost is being sent to and the grey skies that prevail in the movie. Moreover, director and Grandmaster Polanski does not forget to underlay the suspense at certain points with a subtle sense of humour.Overall a clear recommendation for all those that can still appreciate a movie only for its good story telling.

Suspenseful and intriguing is the best way to describe this film. What is interesting is it has no action scenes and you don't witness any murders but the intensity is still there. A simple position involving being the ghost writer for a controversial leader uncovers more mysteries than answers. Ewan McGregor's character finds more questions than answers. The film is non-stop in its pace as we get deeper. Not a bad film and definitely worth a watch.

The Ghost (Ewan McGregor) has been selected to finish an autobio on a former British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan). The previous ghostwriter was found washed up on the Martha's Vineyard Beach, a soused victim of poor judgement. As he prepares to go to the island to stay with the PM war criminal charges are lodged against his subject. Entrenched in the PMs beach level bunker with a stunning view of the Atlantic he comes upon some information that may implicate the PM.It becomes pretty clear early on the villainous path of Ghostwriter, how it will end a lot longer due to Roman Polanski's impeccable ability to speak film language. Interjecting homage to Hitchcock evoking moments and characters from Chinatown he turns days at the beach gloomy warm country inns eerie. He makes magnificent use of a ferry and an empty car to open the film as well as turn the locals suspect with their less than amiable demeanor. Ewan MacGregor moves about with a rumpled and cynical curtness as the abrasive and hard stuff preferring Ghost that makes him no pushover for the PM, played with the same self confident disdain by Brosnan. As the hovering wife of stern purpose Olivia Williams holds her own with anyone in the room.With matters pretty evident not far in Polanski does his best to slowly snake his way to the conclusion and does so in a clear cut case of form over content.

Good, but not great. Intriguing plot, well shot, very well acted. However, the plot often seems contrived, and there are some gaps. Plus in the end you think "So what? This was the big secret?". For all the stylish, clever build-up, the ending is quite underwhelming.Great performances all round. Olivia Williams is miscast though. Not because of her ability to play her part, but we are supposed to believe she is in her mid-to-late 50s! She certainly didn't look it.Decent enough movie, but not worth all the hype.