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The Ghost Writer

Play trailer Poster for The Ghost Writer PG-13 2010 2h 9m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 206 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When a successful ghostwriter, The Ghost (Ewan McGregor), agrees to finish the memoirs of Adam Long (Pierce Brosnan), 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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The Ghost Writer

The Ghost Writer

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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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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/30/2018
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. Go to Full Review
Ed Koch The Atlantic 01/13/2018
The dialogue and suspense created by director Polanski are first rate. You will enjoy this film. Go to Full Review
Andrew Sarris Film Comment Magazine 06/20/2013
In the total context of Polanski's hard life and grim ordeals ... The Ghost Writer constitutes a miracle of artistic and psychological resilience. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 08/22/2023
4/4
A subtle and elegant thriller Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 10/05/2022
The first impressionable thriller of 2010. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Stuart McGurk NME (New Musical Express) 05/19/2021
4/5
It's the kind of film that comes along all too rarely, and you find yourself hoping it won't be his last. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Kevin R. @SonoftheMidwest74 Nov 16 without including lots of spoilers I can't say what the basic flaw in this movie is. However suffice it to say that the big reveal at the end has something very wrong with it. Nevertheless I think it's a great movie. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Aug 7 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Kim P Jul 8 The final shot was the only thing of any unusual value in this exceedingly boring film. See more mark g @Mark_Alan_G. Jun 16 Visually stunning. This film is a masterpiece in cinematography. You see elements of Hitchcock and De Palma. Every scene is a cross between elegance and sterile, just so clean. There is no sunlight, all overcast or stormy. This atmosphere creates a suspense that slow burns for the full two hours. Suppose I could talk about the plot and acting, but for me, this film was always about the visuals. See more John C May 15 The sound track was intrusive it gave it a 70’s TV detective series feel. The ending wasn’t supported at all by the plot. How does the Ghost Writer string it all together with practically 0 references during the film. Only to be discovered at the very end, then killed? (Sorry). See more Mar 3 Another great Polanski hit. It's a murder mystery suspense thriller told from the point of view of the memoire ghost writer for a politician who is suspected of deception and abuse of power. The movie has a great flow and you're kept engaged throughout as the plot twists and turns with a completely unexpected end. See more Read all reviews
The Ghost Writer

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a successful ghostwriter, The Ghost (Ewan McGregor), agrees to finish the memoirs of Adam Long (Pierce Brosnan), 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, France 2 Cinéma, Elfte Babelsberg Film GmbH, R.P. Films
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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