This post was written by Hatchet Reporter Joshua Hock.

Landmark E Street Cinema (Political Thriller, Suspense; PG-13)

“The Ghost Writer,” based on Robert Harris’ novel, follows the story of an unnamed ghost writer who is hired by former British Prime Minister Adam Lang to help pen his memoirs.  As the hero of the story is hurried into his new, hyper-secure settings at Lang’s seaside estate, a former member of Lang’s cabinet publicly accuses him of war crimes. As Lang tries to evade a trial before the International Criminal Court, the ghost writer begins to solve the mystery of his predecessor’s death, who was also Lang’s  assistant;  in so doing, he uncovers a vast political conspiracy.

The wooded and foggy island setting, with shady shacks and specters, continually reminds the viewer that something is amiss; it is just the slightest tad noir. This film is a puzzle that must be put together, and each twist and turn (and ferry ride) toward the solution keeps the heart pumping.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Lang and his Lady Macbeth of a wife are modeled after real-life couple Tony and Cherie Blair.This should not suggest that the film (as distinguished from the novel) is at all preachy; politics hardly come into play at all.  The real story is about the mystery and the conspiracy. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, either; the dialogue is fresh and witty, and the characters are fun and too human not to love.

Overall, the film is not accusatory, but suggestive—which is rather the way the film’s director, Roman Polanski, likes to do things. It’s hard not to play psychoanalyst during the film, as much of it seems to mirror Polanski’s current troubles. Like Lang, Polanski has been hiding out from the world, and there’s a certain biographical feel to the scenes documenting preparations made by Lang and his staff as they head out to face a barrage of cameras, reporters and protesters. At the risk of over-analysis, it is too tempting not to ask whether Polanski might be communicating his own frustration, exhaustion and bewilderment through Lang.

“The Ghost Writer” is a real gem of a movie: fun, thrilling and slightly preposterous. It is recommended to fans of “Chinatown” and “Clear and Present Danger.”