"The Ghost Writer" Review

“The Ghost Writer” is the latest film from Academy Award-winning director Roman Polanski. It may possibly also be his last film depending on whether or not he is successfully extradited from a 32-year old crime and scandal he’s been involved with. Indeed, his scandal seems to go on almost as long as the scandal Adam Lang (Pierce Bronson) has going for him in this film. Though the focus of the movie is on the dirty politician (possibly inspired by Tony Blaire), the protagonist of the film is on the ghost writer who has been hired to clean up the manuscript of Adam’s memoir’s. The ghost writer is never named but simply referred to as Ghost throughout the film, and is played with surprising conviction by Ewan McGregor.

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Polanski's 'Ghost' In Limbo

Due to the recent arrest of Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski ("Chinatown," "The Pianist"), his almost-finished-but-not-quite film "The Ghost" has been put on hold.  From what I understand most of the film is in the can.  Polanski was practically done with the editing with only a few more scenes to go, but most of the postproduction work involving the sound is not.  Sound mixing, editing, and scoring still need to be done.  Of course this could all be done without Polanski's involvement, but chances are he'd rather not have the movie released then have someone else touch it.  Obviously production will not go forward until we know for sure whether or not Polanski will be extradited to the United States.

One things for sure though: If Polanski is extradited and forced to serve a jail sentence then the movie will most likely have to be completed without him.  Sorry, but as much as I'd love Polanski to finish this film there's too much at stake to drop it just because he can't finish it.  The movie is practically done at this point, and too much money has been spent on it to let it stay in limbo.  Ghost writers finish uncompleted book series when authors pass away suddenly, so I have on doubt the movie will be finished.  Who knows, maybe in a pity vote Hollywood would give Polanski a second Best Director Oscar (seeing how many Hollywood stars want him released, this movie could be very important next Oscar season depending on how this situation pans out).

Another thing we have to keep in mind is whether or not this situation will help sell the movie or hurt selling the movie.  On one hand he could go to jail and there could be interest in it because it's his last film.  If he goes free people might not be interested in seeing a movie made by someone who got away with rape.  Such a very, very interesting situation.  The movie stars Pierce Bronson and Ewan McGregor and was set to be released sometime in 2010.