The Ghost (2010)

His personal issues aside, Roman Polanski has been one of the most celebrated and interesting directors of the last 30 years. His latest film, who's release was marred by real life events, is a neat and taut adaptation of Robert Harris's novel. The story is a simple one of political intrigue, Ewan McGreggor plays the titular 'ghost', a writer who is hired to finish writing the memoirs of Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) the British ex-prime minister, after the books previous author was found dead. Naturally what seems to be an easy way of making some good money turns into something much more sinister as allegations about Adams conduct whilst in office raise their head. 

What is refreshing about The Ghost is the relatively low key and realistic nature of the mystery and characters as a whole. In many ways it has a very old fashioned feeling, it's deliberate pacing and ambiguous characters keep the tone claustrophobic and tense, even when nothing is happening and this in turn feeds the films more dramatic scenes with a greater sense of urgency and importance. Ewan McGreggor does a great line in the everyman and his character here, who is never named, is refreshingly normal. He is not a detective, and so the way his enquiries come about feel a lot more natural rather than a standard police procedural. The subject matter of the film, war crimes, and the focus on US / UK relations make this as well a timely and politically minded film in many ways, the parallels between Adam Lang and Tony Blair are obvious, but it is never too overt about it, the situations forming the backdrop of the film rather than the focus. The film may deal with some potentially heavy issues but it never forgets its focus on entertainment and character, and so never feels weighted down or dull.

Olivia Williams puts in another strong supporting performance as Lang's embittered wife and her uncanny knack of playing cold hearted, but complex lends the film much of its ambiguity and intrigue. The whole film is surrounded in rain and gloom, the cold landscape of the New Hampshire villa where a lot of the film takes place reflects the tone of the film nicely. Alexandre Desplat's score as well is wonderfully evocative, whilst remaining subtle enough to merely enhance the films inherent tension. The only bum note in the film is Kim Catrall's rather flat and one note performance as Adam Lang's long suffering PA, a role that is somewhat underwritten, but not helped by her less than convincing British accent.

As a whole though this is a highly effective little thriller, it is tightly plotted and scripted and filled with great performances. Those expecting a bombastic Bourne Identity style thriller may be disappointed but this is a film that will manage to entertain and surprise, whilst having a little something more on its mind.