The Ghost Writer

Name: The Ghost Writer
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: February 19, 2010
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Olivia Williams, Pierce Brosnan

2010

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 253 Ratings

See All

7.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.5	Your Score
7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 253 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Ghost Writer

Now Playing: The Ghost Writer

Movie Details & Credits

Summit Distribution | Release Date: February 19, 2010 | PG-13

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Olivia Williams, Pierce Brosnan

Summary: A gifted author hired to ghostwrite the memoirs of a controversial former British Prime Minister becomes a hunted man when he uncovers explosive secrets about the past. (Summit Entertainment)

Director: Roman Polanski

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 128 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Kenneth Turan

The Ghost Writer is the kind of impeccable adult entertainment, able to alternate edge-of-your-seat episodes with bleakly comic moments, that Hitchcock used to specialize in and that Polanski himself realized so successfully in "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby." Read full review

Dana Stevens

The Ghost Writer is a triumph: elegant, accomplished, and (this is the hardest part to admit) occasionally even wise. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Satisfying, melancholy political suspense story. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

The Ghost Writer hasn’t the complexity or breadth of such stunners as "Chinatown" or "The Pianist," but it is nevertheless a solidly built little roundelay of intrigue with a veracity that seems torn from newspaper headlines. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Offers an unusually astute glimpse of power at its most alluring and corrosive. Read full review

Nicolas Rapold

Saved by often delightfully bitchy British dialogue. Read full review

Rick Groen

The result is a political thriller refreshingly long on grown-up dialogue yet lamentably shy on, well, thrills. This chatty thing does go on. Read full review

SEE ALL 35 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

HCSouza

Jan 19, 2011

It's not the best Polanski I've seen (the most unsettling for me is still The Tenant) but it is still a Polanski, very political - smashing over plausibility to make a point - very critical, dark and thrilling. Loved it.

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

JaneS.

Apr 3, 2010

Wonderful smart movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AlexS

Jun 27, 2011

The script is smart and suspenseful and the story is well developed.It's certainly not Polanski's best film but it still proves that he's a great director.The movie remains tense throughout and McGreggor's performance is very strong.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

adamjones

Jul 28, 2014

Consistently heard negative reviews of this one, but was pleasantly surprised when I finally gave it a chance. THE GHOST WRITER had me guessing the entire way through and was an exciting ride. Admittedly, the style of the film is at times inconsistent - specifically I am thinking of theConsistently heard negative reviews of this one, but was pleasantly surprised when I finally gave it a chance. THE GHOST WRITER had me guessing the entire way through and was an exciting ride. Admittedly, the style of the film is at times inconsistent - specifically I am thinking of the ending - this was my one criticism. The Northeastern backdrops and stylish hotel interiors helped to create a sophisticated, and, well, damn cool mood throughout. The production designer on this film deserved double whatever he was making. McGregor and Williams are especially great.

Overall, Polanski's suspenseful THE GHOST WRITER is a solid 8/10.
-a… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spielberg00

Jun 7, 2012

Let me start off by stating simply that I cannot compare THE GHOST WRITER to any of Roman Polanskiâ

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

conschobhar

Nov 15, 2010

The Ghost Writer is a film that sticks with you after a first viewing, and certainly encourages another viewing. I can think of few higher compliments than this. I'd forgotten how cool Ewan McGregor is, and Olivia Williams is smoldering in this film. However, the mysterious tension thatThe Ghost Writer is a film that sticks with you after a first viewing, and certainly encourages another viewing. I can think of few higher compliments than this. I'd forgotten how cool Ewan McGregor is, and Olivia Williams is smoldering in this film. However, the mysterious tension that makes this film great ultimately dissipates as the rather conventional plot is revealed. Basically, The Ghost Writer goes from **** to Clancy in a matter of minutes. A shame really, because the final scene is rather brilliant.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

egovirus

Nov 1, 2010

Yikes. Couldn't wait for this mess of a movie to end, to say nothing of my indifference as to how it would, after a great deal of tedium, end. The idea is paper (ha ha ha) thin, and certainly didn't warrant the 2+ hours worth of bad writing it took to complete this exercise in... I need aYikes. Couldn't wait for this mess of a movie to end, to say nothing of my indifference as to how it would, after a great deal of tedium, end. The idea is paper (ha ha ha) thin, and certainly didn't warrant the 2+ hours worth of bad writing it took to complete this exercise in... I need a adjective for god awful crossed with paralytic boredom. Anyway, a hell of a lot of talent got wasted on this film. If there was a conspiracy it was on the part of the script writer, editor, and Polanski, to create wooden characters who people a sterile 2 dimensional world it is impossible to care about. The twist, when it finally does come, is paltry, and irrelevant, precisely because so little effort was put into creating a background against which the revelation might matter. And then the very end, when the car speeds by, and the papers come floating past the camera. All I could think is, "are you fuc*ing serious?" I think it's safe to say Mr. Polanski's best work was finished long long ago.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 86 REVIEWS

51	#51 Best Movie of 2010
45	#45 Most Discussed Movie of 2010
75	#75 Most Shared Movie of 2010