A ghost writer is one who writes under someone else’s name but can’t have his own name published in the book. Attracted by this large sum of payment, the “ghost” accepts a job as an autobiography writer for Adam, the ex-prime minister of Britain. While, the previous ghost David is founded dead by the seaside, suicide or murder. This new ghost begins his job in Adam’s residence in an isolated island, and as he is trying to rewrite the book, he finds out something unusual. The truth is just like an onion, waiting someone to peal it out layer by layer.
The movie just develops slowly, three days just like a long period. Emergences come out, Adam coming back and leaving the island. Ghost is not just a substitute, without drawing anyone’s attention. He tracks down what is left behind by David, observing Adam, his wife Ruth and his lover and secretary. What really draws his attention is that material package he found in the client room’s wardrobe. There are pictures of Adam’s college days in Cambridge, and some incoherent data of his political history. All his effort of seeking for truth leads himself into a dangerous situation. He is followed by two men after his visit to one of Adam’s Cambridge friend, who is the hiding group helping Adam obtain his political power in a short time. I don’t get the intention of this so-called scientific group. Maybe it is trying to grasp the natural resources from Britain by some underground pact. During a protest in an airport, Adam is then killed by a father whose son is a soldier who died in the Iraq war and who is in rage because Adam lies about the war. The death of Adam pacifies the rage of people and ends the accusation. The book is welcomed after his death, while at the same time the ghost finally gets the clue that the book contains, i.e. the wife Ruth is actually a CIA. Obviously, the whole incidents are arranged at the very beginning. The ghost is at the end hit by a car and becomes a real ghost, following the man he once works for.
The music in the movie always tells us what is going to happen next. The tense music indicates something mysterious or terrible is happening. The whole movie sets in a hue colour, leaving the audience in a blur atmosphere and urging us to find out the truth. Yet, there are still some incidents which I take as unnecessary. Maybe it’s of use, but I just can’t get it.
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