Sometimes, you have to realize the universe is trying to tell you something and make a point of seeing something. In the same day, two of the Row Three crew got into Roman Polanski conversations with me completely unbeknownst to one another. Admittedly, my Polanski vocabulary is weak, so I took the cue to start boning up and decided to work backwards…thus a rental of THE GHOST WRITER was in order.

The film is about a former British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan) who is trying to publish his memoirs. His work needs a polish so his publishing house brings in a ghost writer to tweak it (Ewan McGregor). Problem number one occurs when the ex-PM is accused of war crimes mere hours after the ghost writer is given the job. Problem number two is that this is the second ghost writer to take the gig – the first one died on the job.

What got me about the movie was the omnipresent notion that something was wrong…almost from the very beginning. If I was an author, and I went for an interview to a publisher that had metal detectors and armed guards posted in the lobby, you bet your bile duct that I’d think twice about taking the gig. What keeps the movie chugging along, is that time and time again as our hero tries to do his innocuous job…we never leave that initial notion that things aren’t right.

There’s a wry humour to this film that I loved, and I was hooked by how well Polanski was able to get Germany to stand in for Martha’s Vineyard. Another great hook was what Polanski was able to get out of his supporting actors. Tom Wilkinson plays seemingly curmudgeon, yet quietly cold and calculating.Olivia Williams (can’t remember the last bad thing I saw her in) likewise seems to be playing three different characters at once. And while it’s precious more than a bit part – watch for Jim Belushi playing way against type and showing the audience something they’ve never seen out of him.

Finally I need to give this film kudos for one of the greatest endings I’ve ever seen. Purely for cinematic craft, its conclusion is nothing short of stunning. I could spoil it for you…but you never know who’s listening.