The Ghost Writer

The Ghost Writer is an artistically shot slow-moving thriller. In it a ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) reluctantly takes on the job of redacting and finishing the memoirs of former UK Prime Minister Andrew Lang (Pierce Brosnan). The job came open when the previous ghost writer drowned under suspicious circumstances. A scandal breaks out shortly after the ghost flies to the US, where the Lang is residing. Mystery and intrigue ensue. The story itself is not as complex and twist-filled as one might expect from a political thriller; however, the way The Ghost Writer is filmed makes up for many of the flaws in the story. The colors in the film are muted both indoors and out, the music is soft and meandering, and the timing of events and subtle movements in the film all impeccably add to the tension and suspense. It almost goes without saying that The Ghost Writer feels like a tribute to Hitchcock, but I feel the need to say it since it is the main reason that I like the film. The film has an overwhelming sense of a black cloud looming overhead from beginning to end. It is, in fact, thrilling.