The Ghost Writer

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The Ghost Writer

PG-13

Released Mar 19, 2010

2h 9m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

207 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When a successful ghostwriter, the Ghost (Pierce Brosnan), agrees to finish the memoirs of Adam Long (Ewan McGregor), England's former prime minister, his publisher assures him it's the chance of a lifetime. Instead, he begins to uncover evidence that suggests his late predecessor knew a dark secret about Lang and may have been murdered to prevent it from coming to light.

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Critics Consensus

While it may lack the revelatory punch of Polanski's finest films, Ghost Writer benefits from stylish direction, a tense screenplay, and a strong central performance from Ewan McGregor.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

This isn't a great film. You won't carry it around in your heart for years to come... But it'll keep you with it right to the very end, which has to be worth something. It may even be worth quite a lot.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Ed Koch

The Atlantic

The dialogue and suspense created by director Polanski are first rate. You will enjoy this film.

Jan 13, 2018

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Andrew Sarris

Film Comment Magazine

In the total context of Polanski's hard life and grim ordeals ... The Ghost Writer constitutes a miracle of artistic and psychological resilience.

Jun 20, 2013

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A subtle and elegant thriller

Rated: 4/4

Aug 22, 2023

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

The first impressionable thriller of 2010. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 5, 2022

Full Review

Stuart McGurk

NME (New Musical Express)

It's the kind of film that comes along all too rarely, and you find yourself hoping it won't be his last.

Rated: 4/5

May 19, 2021

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Faiz D

A very engaging thriller.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

Full Review

Dave S

In one of Roman Polanski’s least Polanski-like efforts, Ewan McGregor plays a ghost writer who is helping a former British prime minister (Pierce Brosnan) write his memoirs. However, things take a decidedly bad turn when the former politician is accused of war crimes. The Ghost Writer manages to work thanks to the performances from the impressive cast, which also includes the likes of Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, and Tom Wilkinson (among others), and a smart script from novelist Robert Harris. Despite its strengths, the movie doesn’t have much in the way of wow factors and, as good as it may be on a technical level, feels like it is one of the more forgettable pieces of Polanski’s impressive oeuvre.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/24

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Emma C

Not a very good movie. I've heard lots of people say it is but it is very slow. Nothing super exciting ever happens and the ending was a let down

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

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Audience Member

Didn't care for this and wouldn't recommend it. Lots of build up that I thought would pay off, but then it was a massive let down. Tried to be too clever and failed.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/05/23

Full Review

Cynthia S

Polanski ....a master Bleak damp isolated environment...newbie in over his head...a boy scout looking for lizards encounters a bear instead. The isolation and Cape-sih weather are the perfect menacing backdrop which not only parallel the story line but highlight the vulnerability of the ghostwriter. The direction proves as always the craft master that Polanski is. The actors play their parts to perfection..The movie may appear long to some but only if the environment which plays its own role superbly is overlooked. The threat is there in every scene.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/04/23

Full Review

S R

Better than average political thriller. Despite its poor ending, the build up was good and I was entertained for the most part. It was a bit over the top focusing on the anti-neo-cons in England and the world who justified their tortures in the name of security. It's a shame they had to get political, because it could have avoided things. Shot in Germany, not USA because of Polanski's problems. It was on Amazon.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/13/23

Full Review

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Roman Polanski

Director

Ewan McGregor

The Ghost

Pierce Brosnan

Adam Lang

Kim Cattrall

Amelia

Olivia Williams

Ruth Lang

Timothy Hutton

Sidney Kroll

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The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - A C.I.A. Handler

3:04

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - Prime Minister Down

2:27

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - In the Beginning

2:45

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - Deeper Into the Woods

2:59

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - A Formal Investigation

2:53

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - Escaping The Ferry

2:26

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - Selling Autobiographies

2:17

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - For a Woman

2:35

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - The Triangle

2:02

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Synopsis

When a successful ghostwriter, the Ghost (Pierce Brosnan), agrees to finish the memoirs of Adam Long (Ewan McGregor), England's former prime minister, his publisher assures him it's the chance of a lifetime. Instead, he begins to uncover evidence that suggests his late predecessor knew a dark secret about Lang and may have been murdered to prevent it from coming to light.

Director: Roman Polanski
Producer: Roman Polanski, Robert Benmussa, Alain Sarde
Screenwriter: Robert Harris, Roman Polanski
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Production Co: Runteam III LTD, R.P. Films, Elfte Babelsberg Film GmbH, France 2 Cinéma
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Nudity|A Drug Reference|Language|Sexuality|Some Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 19, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.5M
Runtime: 2h 9m

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