The Ghost (4 Stars)

This film is also called "The Ghost Writer" in some countries.

Ewan McGregor plays a ghost writer who is hired to assist a British ex-prime minister, Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), in writing his memoirs. To do this he has to go to the remote American island Martha's Vineyard where Lang is living in virtual exile. Lang is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged humanitarian crimes, having delivered Al Qaeda terrorists to the American CIA for interrogation under torture. He is safe in America, since the USA is one of the few countries that does not recognise the ICC. The ghost writer is caught up in the frenzy of public protests and media coverage while trying to do his work and delve into Lang's past.

Significantly, the ghost writer is never named in the film. Ghost writers always remain anonymous, as part of their contract. They are commonly used by politicians or celebrities who are unable to write their own autobiography, whether it's due to lack of time or lack of writing skill. Seriously, does anyone really believe that Katie Price wrote her own books? Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan excel as the two main characters. The slow and steady suspense are typical for films directed by Roman Polanski. I don't think Polanski has ever made a bad film. He's an old school director who puts the emphasis on the plot rather than sensational special effects.