Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer

[GreenScar]

Watch Trailer

Based on the Robert Harris novel, the film tells the story of a ghostwriter (Ewan McGregor) who is hired to complete the memoirs of a former British prime minister, and somehow uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy. The film also stars Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Timothy Hutton, James Belushi, and Tom Wilkinson.

[DMC86X]

Pretty solid cast. Ill chck it out. Keep up the good work my green friend.

[Elandyll]

Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan? Sign me in... I think

[Lord_Stewie]

Update:

Oct. 1st:

THE GHOST TO BE FINISHED WITH OR WITHOUT HIM

Because of the recent news of Polanski's daring arrest, this is the result:

Some rather surprising news has come on down today from a Deauville, France conference for cinema exhibitors. Jerome Seydoux, the chairmen of Pathe, announced that Roman Polanski’s political thriller The Ghost, which they will be distributing in France, will be finished and released to cinemas whether or not the director is extradited to the US or even incarcerated. Does Polanski know this decision has been made? Has the director been given any say in this matter? Are we seeing the first admission that his film will be taken away from him and completed without his input to serve the distributor’s wishes?


Two French sites raced to post the news first. Here’s a roughly translated quote from Premiere’s ‘exclusive’:

Jerome Seydoux, co-chairman of Pathe and Gaumont cinemas confirmed at the exhibitor’s conference in Deauville that The Ghost will reach French screens in March 2010 . If the director is still detained until that time it seems like other members of his team will take care of sound and music for his film.

And, the ‘first announcement’ from Tout Le Cine, again in rough translation:

Scheduled to be on screens in 2010, The Ghost will be released as planned, imprisoned director or not. This is the first site to make the announcement after receiving the information from the lips of the President of Pathe, Jerome Seydoux. Arriving in Deauville to attend the annual conference of exhibitors, the brother of Nicolas said that the timetable would not move, whatever the circumstances.

The assumption so far seemed to be that the film would most likely be frozen in light of Polanski’s situation. What we don’t know yet is if Polanski has given the go ahead for the sound on the film to be finished without his direct input or if, in effect, the film has been taken away from him.

Pathe are not only distributing the film in France but also own a chain of cinemas there where, of course, they’d be sure to block book it. Their interest in having this film see the light of day is hardly mysterious.

Enjoy.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by shadblz

Okay I agree with you that this Polanski guy is a criminal and should be punished. Still Keep this topic off of this thread since its not about him committing a crime. Its about a movie.

And I ask you humbly to do so.

thanks.

Not a problem, Shadblz, you know I have respect for you. And I do apologize for being off-topic; it is just something that has significantly bothered me the past few days.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Jamespic1118

Good thing I read this post....I was about to go off on this animal.

If you would care to discuss the topic, shoot me a pm. I would be greatly interested in why you would feel the need to go off of me and call me an "animal," when I was merely commenting about my frustration, albeit off topic. The fact of the matter is, I would not have commented if shadblz had not provided a link that is relevant to both the movie and his legal case. But, alas, I do not want to hijack this thread more than I have done so, for the respect of others, so if you care to discuss, I would be more than happy to do so.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Jamespic1118

Good thing I read this post....I was about to go off on this animal.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

If you would care to discuss the topic, shoot me a pm. I would be greatly interested in why you would feel the need to go off of me and call me an "animal," when I was merely commenting about my frustration, albeit off topic. The fact of the matter is, I would not have commented if shadblz had not provided a link that is relevant to both the movie and his legal case. But, alas, I do not want to hijack this thread more than I have done so, for the respect of others, so if you care to discuss, I would be more than happy to do so.

Hope you guys work this conf. out in a fashionably manner.

As to back to the topic,

What do guys think. Another possibly great story being told?

What do you expect?

[Foggy]

I think pierce brosen makes for a great PM, at least better than that one we have now.

[koontz1973]

Originally Posted by shadblz

What do guys think. Another possibly great story being told?

Yes! Polanski is a great director and I do enjoy most of his films. With the cast involved, I have high hopes for this.

[koontz1973]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I think pierce brosen makes for a great PM, at least better than that one we have now.

What's wrong with having a half deaf, half blind PM that looks like he is one steak dinner away from a heart attack

[Moviefan1203]

Roman Polanski is a damn fine filmmaker, and I have been interested in The Ghost for awhile now. I can't wait for the film to get released in theatres and then on Blu-ray.

[Sussudio]

Anyone else see this yet? I just went to a screening last night and thought it was phenomenal....great story, acting...set design was awesome and music by Alexandre Desplat was incredible as always (if not slightly overpowering). Polanski has not lost his touch (in my opinion).

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

Anyone else see this yet? I just went to a screening last night and thought it was phenomenal....great story, acting...set design was awesome and music by Alexandre Desplat was incredible as always (if not slightly overpowering). Polanski has not lost his touch (in my opinion).

I'm surprised you loved this so much, I read bad reviews of this movie, so I'll check it out when I get the opportunity.

[Foggy]

I don't know why they changed the name of this in the UK to The Ghost, (stupid to me, the ghost writer at least sounds like it relevant to the film) but I also saw the trailer to it the other night, not happy, gave away way too much, and I mean way too much!

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I don't know why they changed the name of this in the UK to The Ghost, (stupid to me, the ghost writer at least sounds like it relevant to the film) but I also saw the trailer to it the other night, not happy, gave away way too much, and I mean way too much!

I never saw the trailer and stayed away from most of the reviews...just read a few brief summaries and I haven't loved all of Polanski's films but I still consider him a great filmmaker so thought I'd give this one a shot...was glad I did.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Lord_Stewie

Hope you guys work this conf. out in a fashionably manner.

As to back to the topic,

What do guys think. Another possibly great story being told?

What do you expect?

I can't recall a Polanski film I care to watch again - they're just not very impressive. It's different for films from directors like Scorsese, or Coppola, go right on down the list.

At one point, I did a self-check on my revulsion for his personal problems, but truly, that isn't it. It's more a problem of great actors, trying to portray characters, being forced to over-act - think of a dedicated Method actor being corrected to fit the dialogue, over and over again.

It was most obvious in Chinatown, where the supporting cast all seemed to be getting pushed around (except for Houston and Nicholson), especially Dunaway. Polanski, childishly inserting himself in a brief role, was a very bad fit. "Stunt self-casting" is invariably a mistake.

The only true great film he's made, in my opinion, is the moody "Knife In The Water", and the violence and misogyny in the rest of his films - blithely explained away by most fans as a reflection the horrors inflicted on Sharon Tate - seem forced.

The real problem is that discussing Polanski as a director, ignoring the facts about his life, is disingenuous at best. A director who makes films about his life, his ethnicity, and his shared experiences - think of The Pianist - can't be separated from them when discussing his work. Many criminals have created works of art, some banal, some sublime, and some in an attempt at sheer misdirection from their life stories, depending on their mood at the time. Had Polanski sprung this latest work (or any work he's done since his criminal act) via pseudonym, pulling an "Alan Smythee", perhaps it would be different.

The point is, lionizing his work can't be described as reviewing or supporting it as a stand-alone endeavor. Many people, who support his actions as "eccentricities" for whatever reason, seem to enjoy castigating critics of his personal actions for not separating the man from his creations. It's not clear why they do it, and everyone is different, so the same motives can't be ascribed to everyone.

But without comparing him to other criminals who have created art/entertainment - down that road lies only arguments - he should be viewed in totality, as an artist, and as a human being. Some artists do minor crimes, or live outside the bounds of societal norms, and their work is unfairly criticized in an attempt to bring them into some arbitrary standard.

Polanski's actions were different, and go a bit too far afield, for this reason: they did not involve an act of choice, by the other participant-viewer-whatever. As a result, I don't consider him to be an honest artist - as I take his life, and work, as a whole.

To review his work, I must compensate him for it. I must buy a ticket, from which he benefits. To hand him money, after he performed the crime to which he confessed, is so far outside my limits of acceptance that I can't describe it adequately.

So, to you who are not disturbed by such things, I hope you enjoy the film. It is probably a decent effort, in an of itself. He will be rewarded for it, monetarily, and that will encourage others of his ilk to do as he as done; but the line of decent behavior towards children will not move. It will only be crossed, again and again, to the applause of onlookers who really, ultimately, do not care about such things.

[Sussudio]

Blu-Dog, I understand what you are saying and there's nothing wrong with that view....for me personally, I always try to separate the artist from the person (which can be very difficult to do in some cases). Polanksi and Mel Gibson are too good examples for me and I will not go any more in depth than that.

I watched Ghost Writer through a "Polinski as an artist" lens, and that is how I evaluated it. Others are welcome to disagree with that mentality, though I will remind everyone that this thread is about the movie itself, not events in the director's life.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

Blu-Dog, I understand what you are saying and there's nothing wrong with that view....for me personally, I always try to separate the artist from the person (which can be very difficult to do in some cases). Polanksi and Mel Gibson are too good examples for me and I will not go any more in depth than that.

I watched Ghost Writer through a "Polinski as an artist" lens, and that is how I evaluated it. Others are welcome to disagree with that mentality, though I will remind everyone that this thread is about the movie itself, not events in the director's life.

Perfectly said Sussudio. When I watch film, I separate one's personal life from their professional life. To be completely frank, their personal lives are none of my business and certainly none of my concern. What I am concerned about is the quality of work.

[phoenixram1977]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

Blu-Dog, I understand what you are saying and there's nothing wrong with that view....for me personally, I always try to separate the artist from the person (which can be very difficult to do in some cases). Polanksi and Mel Gibson are too good examples for me and I will not go any more in depth than that.

I watched Ghost Writer through a "Polinski as an artist" lens, and that is how I evaluated it. Others are welcome to disagree with that mentality, though I will remind everyone that this thread is about the movie itself, not events in the director's life.

I totally totally agree!

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

Blu-Dog, I understand what you are saying and there's nothing wrong with that view....for me personally, I always try to separate the artist from the person (which can be very difficult to do in some cases). Polanksi and Mel Gibson are too good examples for me and I will not go any more in depth than that.

I watched Ghost Writer through a "Polinski as an artist" lens, and that is how I evaluated it. Others are welcome to disagree with that mentality, though I will remind everyone that this thread is about the movie itself, not events in the director's life.

No problem, man. I understand your point of view.