POLANSKI'S PROGRESS

Well, Cineguys and gals, this is my first post-Oscar posting (and three cheers for KATHRYN BIGELOW and THE HURT LOCKER), and I'm proud to report, I have seen the best film of the year to date, in this admittedly short year: THE GHOST WRITER, masterfully directed by ROMAN POLANSKI, who just picked up a SILVER BEAR, at the BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL, for directing it.

The film which is based on the book by ROBERT HARRIS, (he also had a hand in the screenplay too), THE GHOST, stars EWAN MCGREGGOR, PIERCE BROSNAN, TOM WILKINSON, and OLIVIA WILDE (in a bravura performance). The less said about KIM CATRALL, in a supporting role, the better. It is by turns, funny, suspenseful, thrilling, scary, puzzling and in the end, deeply satisfying, with a wicked twist, you won't see coming for miles.

Without giving too much away, MCGREGGOR, plays the eponymous role. He has been hired by a TONY BLAIR manque (BROSNAN), to work on his memoirs, after the first ghost, has died under mysterious circumstances. At the same time, this former PM is under siege, for apparent war crimes, committed under his regime. That's all you need to know.

This film is in the tradition of those great paranoia thrillers of the 70's: KLUTE, THE PARALLAX VIEW and THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR. POLANSKI'S presence looms over every frame and one can feel echoes of his past works like CHINATOWN, reverberating in every frame. Regardless, of all the personal stress he was under at the time, (he edited it while under house arrest, for Pete's sake), the film is seamless and flawless.

This is a great film, highly recommended and alot of fun to boot.

...AND WHAT A TWIST ENDING... (enough said).

Until next time..

T.T.F.N.