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Post by Ace on Jan 15, 2010 6:24:46 GMT -5
www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2010-01-15-polanski15_ST_N.htm?csp=34U.S.A. Today
Polanski's detention shadows 'Ghost Writer'Jan 15, 2010 By Anthony Breznican Roman Polanski's new film, The Ghost Writer, is a murder mystery set amid the clash of international politics and espionage, reminiscent of the best paranoid thrillers from 1970s Hollywood. But it's a real incident from that era that casts a less flattering shadow on the film. The Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby filmmaker was arrested in Switzerland in September for possible extradition to the United States, which he fled in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl. Polanski is now under house arrest and fighting extradition. The Ghost Writer, however, will be released in the USA on Feb. 19. It remains to be seen whether the scandal surrounding him will influence how his new work is received. Rob Friedman, co-chairman and chief executive of Summit Entertainment, which is distributing the movie, says it won't. "People have an infinite capacity to separate art from people's lives," Friedman says. "Moviegoers are going to the movies. They're not making a statement about whether a trial judge in Los Angeles acted properly or whether (Polanski) paid his price to society." The movie stars Ewan McGregor as a writer assigned to polish the autobiography of a former British prime minister (Pierce Brosnan). McGregor is replacing a previous writer who drowned mysteriously, and when Brosnan comes under investigation as a war criminal, it becomes clear there is something in this politician's story that someone is willing to kill over. "It's very Hitchcockian," says Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net, who was at a showing of the film Wednesday night in Los Angeles. "Polanski hasn't been making films for a few years, and I hadn't known what to expect. Going in, I was looking for a good drama, but it delivered something different from what I was expecting. It's a good thriller." Billington notes, however, that the comments section on his website fills with vitriol when he writes about The Ghost Writer. "I think it's going to hurt attendance," Billington says. "Some people look at it and say, 'I have a viewpoint against Roman Polanski, and no matter how good it looks, no matter who's in it, I can't support his film.' " Polanski's life has been marked by tragedy. A childhood survivor of the Holocaust, he became one of Hollywood's most prominent directors but also lost his pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, in the notorious 1969 Manson family slayings. The September arrest provoked emotions over his actions that had been simmering for more than three decades. Polanski, who won an Oscar for 2002's The Pianist, has long been damaged by his arrest and flight because it limited his access to bigger Hollywood budgets and restricted his ability to work in the USA, says Gregory Ellwood, editor in chief of HitFix.com, who also saw the film Wednesday. "In an alternate universe where this hadn't happened, Roman Polanski would be like Martin Scorsese," he said. Ellwood also noted that Polanski still managed to continue to make films during this period, and has always found top actors willing to work with him (among them Harrison Ford in his 1988 thriller Frantic, and Johnny Depp in 1999's The Ninth Gate.) For many years, the 1977 rape case faded to the background and was not a major issue when one of his films would come out. "There was some scuttlebutt when he was nominated for The Pianist, but it was not dominating that discussion," Ellwood says. The arrest has reignited the controversy, stirring furious feelings on both sides. It might be less of an issue for The Ghost Writer if it were an art-house film with limited commercial appeal, but as an exciting and accessible thriller, it has mainstream potential. "This was more than a pleasant surprise," he says. "I think it's one of his more entertaining films, if not one of his best films."
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Post by Andrea on Jan 18, 2010 18:41:03 GMT -5
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Post by Ace on Jan 19, 2010 14:09:51 GMT -5
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Post by Ace on Jan 20, 2010 7:57:41 GMT -5
www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jan/20/berlin-film-festival-asian-cinemaIn total, 26 films will compete for this year's Golden Bear. The most high profile entry is undoubtedly the latest movie from the Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski, currently under house arrest in Switzerland awaiting possible extradition to the United States. The Ghost Writer, based on the Robert Harris novel The Ghost, stars Ewan McGregor as a journalist who uncovers a conspiracy while helping a former British prime minister, played by Pierce Brosnan, to compile his memoirs. Both actors are expected in Berlin, as is Leonardo DiCaprio, who stars in Martin Scorsese's new thriller Shutter Island, which is screening out of competition.
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Post by Andrea on Jan 20, 2010 17:52:26 GMT -5
Spain's (?) distributor has the English trailer online www.aurumproducciones.com/index.php?servicio=cine&c_pelicula_id=1087On the French poster ... I like it very much, too. There's such a latent and surreal threat over the whole scene and Pierce's look, as if the figur on the poster wall is observing the ghost following him with his eyes, a smart variation on the cover they've actually used for Lang's memoirs in the movie.
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Post by Ace on Jan 20, 2010 18:25:04 GMT -5
Andrea agree, his eyes following Ewan and the sheer size of the poster is what really makes it brilliant. The U.S. poster just released is similar but not as ominous because of the use of a different Pierce head shot - the eyes are facing Ewan but doesn't seem like they're following. A shame. And great find on an English trailer sans subtitles - go figure it's from Spain.
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Post by Ace on Jan 20, 2010 18:28:29 GMT -5
Poster from Showing with this blurb www.firstshowing.net/2010/01/20/official-poster-debut-for-roman-polanskis-the-ghost-writer/Official Poster Debut for Roman Polanski's The Ghost Writer January 20, 2010 by Alex Billington The Ghost Writer Summit has just debuted the official poster for Roman Polanski's The Ghost Writer today. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to see the film and I actually really enjoyed it. In fact, I was quoted in USA Today talking about how great it was and my thoughts the situation. It's a great mystery film with a great cast and an incredible story with some riveting twists and turns. And the score by Alexandre Desplat was incredible as well. To reference my own quote from USA Today, "it's very Hitchcockian." This poster looks pretty good, I love Pierce Brosnan on the wall behind him. Watch the first trailer here as well if you haven't seen it yet!
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Post by Ace on Jan 20, 2010 21:38:18 GMT -5
www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-11-awards-campaign-2009/posts/first-look-the-ghost-writer-s-critical-prospects-should-overshadow-any-polanski-controversy'The Ghost Writer's' critical prospects should overshadow any Polanski controversyPosted on Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 By Gregory Ellwood There has been much speculation about Roman Polanski's new thriller "The Ghost Writer" since the controversy over his possible extradition to the United States began in Sept. And considering the commercial prospects of the material, its easy to see why. Based on the Robert Harris novel of the same name, "Writer" centers on a celebrity ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) who is hired to help finish the autobiography of a disgraced ex-British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan). While the writer visits the PM in the states to work on the book, the former British leader is indicted by the World Court for his handling of terror suspects while in power. Needless to say, all hell goes loose politically, professionally and within the PM's personal life. As the days progress, the writer begins to tie together some of the more powerful people from the PM's life into a possible conspiracy. Is it real or all just the crazy speculation of an over-zealous author? Polanski, who who an Oscar for directing "The Pianist," ended up completing the picture while under house arrest in Zurich over the past two months. Summit Entertainment, which co-financed the film will released it here in the states shortly after its debut at the Berlin Film Festival. Polanski certainly won't be there, but it will be a media mob scene for reactions to the picture. Is it a hit? Does it tell us anything about the filmmaker's current legal struggle (really, someone will ask that)? Or more importantly, s it actually good? Well, having been lucky enough to screen "The Ghost Writer," I can say it may be one of the most commercial and entertaining films from Polanski in decades. "The Pianist" may be his artistic tour-de-force, but "Writer" is an elegantly constructed thriller with a subtly and sophisticated surprise ending that sticks with you days after seeing it. I'm unable to provide a full review, but its worth noting that the cast is exceptional with Tom Wilkinson (pretty much perfect), Pierce Brosnan and Olivia Williams as stand outs. In fact, critical and audience reaction should overshadow any negative press on Polanski's situation. This is one of those rare winter/early spring flicks that should play for quite awhile as word of mouth spreads. It could certainly be a much bigger "Tell No One" in terms of its commercial prospects. Not a blockbuster mind you, but a strong moneymaker for U.S. distributor Summit Entertainment. With that in mind, Summit released a new poster for the film today. They smartly avoided the old floating heads motif, but McGregor with a manuscript flying to the winds seems a bit to literal for a marketing sell. Additionally, it wouldn't hurt to suggest the triangle that Williams (as the PM's wife) and Kim Cattrall (as his long time Sr. assistant) bring to the mix. This will play to adults, but something just a tad hipper could have helped with the twentysomething art house set. Then again, that "Avatar" poster is pretty lame too and that hasn't affected it's run has it? Summit is no doubt much more focused on the trailer and TV spots. As of now, "The Ghost Writer" opens in limited release on Feb. 19 and is pretty much a must-see for any true movie fan. Accompanying controvery or not.
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Post by Ace on Jan 21, 2010 6:51:23 GMT -5
www.aintitcool.com/node/43703The Poster For Roman Polanski's Terrific THE GHOST WRITER Debuts! Beaks here... Critics love to lament that no one is making smart, sophisticated political thrillers on the level of THE PARALLAX VIEW and THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR anymore. So leave it to a contemporary of Alan J. Pakula and Sydney Pollack to turn back the clock and give us a film that is as ambiguous and challenging as those films were, while also delivering his most accomplished thriller since THE TENANT. Go ahead and derail this talkback with whatever, but know this: as a filmmaker, Roman Polanski is back in a big, big way with THE GHOST WRITER. Adapted by Robert Harris (author of the excellent FATHERLAND and ENIGMA) from his own novel, the film is about a mildly successful non-fiction hack (Ewan McGregor) who lands the plum gig of shaping the memoirs of a recently ousted British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan) - who bears a none-too-subtle resemblance to Tony Blair. The opportunity is there for the taking because the PM's former ghost writer washed up dead on a beach somewhere close to Martha's Vineyard. The only downside to the assignment is the PM's potentially unlawful participation in secretly shipping British citizens/suspected terrorists off to Guantanamo Bay for the ol' Jack Bauer treatment. Though the story is something of a slow burn, Polanski runs the film at a brisk pace, eschewing opening credits in favor of getting into the duplicitous goings-on as quickly as possible. There are the usual intrigues (double-crosses, infidelities, carefully scrubbed pasts), but Polanski and Harris approach these conventions with a self-aware cheekiness: i.e. the characters are cognizant of the part they're playing in this oft-told drama, but they're powerless to opt out - so they wearily give in. At its best, THE GHOST WRITER feels like Polanski's lightly absurd take on ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN. And it's an unusually vigorous film for a seventy-six-year-old director. It's the kind of film that usually gets held until November, but if you live in New York or Los Angeles, you'll be getting it this February 19th. The film will then go wide sometime in March. I'll be back with a full review in a few weeks.
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Post by Ace on Jan 21, 2010 9:48:30 GMT -5
www.cinematical.com/2010/01/21/first-impressions-and-one-sheet-for-polanskis-the-ghost-writer/First Impressions and One-Sheet for Polanski's 'The Ghost Writer'by Jenni Miller Jan 21st 2010 // 9:01AM A few weeks ago, we got a sneak peek at Roman Polanski's newest film, The Ghost Writer, previously known as The Ghost, and we can finally loosen our lips a tad to talk about this thriller. (A full review of the final cut will be forthcoming the week of release.) Ewan McGregor plays a professional ghost writer known for more fluffy and financially successful books than serious political biographies. Nevertheless, he is brought in at the last minute to finish the memoirs of former British PM Adam Lang after the previous ghost writer -- and Lang's close friend -- mysteriously drowns before finishing the book. Lang has sequestered himself on a little island in New England to finish his memoirs, but the handsome and athletic figurehead seems seems far less interested in politics than his savvy wife Ruth. The book's deadline isn't the only thing looming in this ominous, rainy little town. Polanski has assembled a very strong cast with McGregor, Pierce Brosnan as Adam Lang, Kim Cattrall as Amelia, Lang's right-hand woman, and Olivia Williams in a stand-out performance as his wife Ruth. The Ghost Writer is a meticulously crafted, stylish film that brings an old Hollywood, noir sensibility to this story by Robert Harris that I liked more, the more I thought about it afterward.
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Post by Ace on Jan 21, 2010 10:10:14 GMT -5
CHUD: POLANSKI'S NEW MOVIE GETS A ONE SHEET chud.com/articles/articles/22229/1/POLANSKI039S-NEW-MOVIE-GETS-A-ONE-SHEET/Page1.htmlI have seen Roman Polanski's new film, The Ghost Writer, and I can tell you that it's very, very good (for those playing along with my Year of Living OCD blog posts, this was the first secret movie I couldn't divulge). The film is funny and tense, and Polanski has a good time playing with the tropes of the thriller genre while actually making an often edge of your seat thriller. Ewan McGregor is fantastic as the ghost writer hired to help Pierce Brosnan's character, named I Might As Well Be Called Tony Blair, finish his memoirs. The previous ghost writer died under mysterious circumstances, and Ewan soon finds himself deep in a web that includes secret agents, femme fatales, torture flights and the War on Terror. Sadly the movie will be overshadowed by the fact that Polanski was arrested while completing it; frankly whatever you think about Polanski and his case this is simply a damn good movie. It's great that it's opening in the same month as Shutter Island, because like Scorsese in that film The Ghost Writer shows a Polanski remembering how to use all those muscles he used to flex back in the day. Both films are great filmmakers getting back to the simple business of great filmmaking - entertaining, well made and a damn good time at the movies. Oh, and about The Ghost Writer - it's early but the film's score by Alexandre Desplat is probably one of the year's best. It was so good I thought it was a temp score lifted from an old classic that I didn't recognize. So here's the one sheet for The Ghost Writer. Look for more from me on the film as we get closer to release.
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Post by Andrea on Jan 21, 2010 12:51:32 GMT -5
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Post by Andrea on Jan 23, 2010 14:46:39 GMT -5
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Post by Lauryn on Jan 23, 2010 15:50:56 GMT -5
True. Don't they know that only 80% of the US audience is stoopid?<wink> What about the rest of us?
True, the Hurt Locker appears to be getting attention in spite of them. They should at least have some moolah in their coffers after "Twilight" and "New Moon." Polanski should have obliged and put some brooding James Dean-channeling vampires in the flick. Problem solved, LOL!
Is it just me, or does the SMA look a bit like Tom Wilkinson in the trailer's black and white freeze frame? They must be rubbing off on each other. Speaking of resemblances, I hear a strong hint of that rotter, Andy Osnard, in the splendid "cheeky f*ck" line. Music to my ears.
Nothing to base it on really, because I haven't even read "The Ghost" novel, but the further they depart from the literalism of Lang being a stand-in for Tony Blair, the more vicarious pleasure I'll suspect I'll get from the character and the performance.
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Post by Andrea on Jan 26, 2010 13:20:04 GMT -5
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Post by Ace on Jan 26, 2010 17:44:31 GMT -5
Thanks. Some new photos at the Polish site. I think that Austria poster like the Polish poster are just mock up teaser posters. Both background images come straight from the official website. A pity that Germany is using the overshopped U.S. version of the poster and not the French one.
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Post by Andrea on Jan 27, 2010 16:19:22 GMT -5
That's exactly what I thought. But a least Kinowelt has released a second trailer .... unfortunately in German ... of course
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Post by Ace on Jan 27, 2010 17:14:38 GMT -5
That's exactly what I thought. But a least Kinowelt has released a second trailer .... unfortunately in German ... of course Why must German distributors persist in releasing things in German. I think this is a better cut and scored trailer but how much better I can't know unless I hear it in English. France has now released another version of the poster - it's a half and half. Same poster of Pierce on wall but more photo-shopped Ewan from the U.S. version pbfiles.t35.com/ghost/posters-01.htmlNow when will Summit get off it's ass and release an official trailer?
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Post by Ace on Jan 28, 2010 19:32:16 GMT -5
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Post by Ace on Feb 1, 2010 12:29:13 GMT -5
www.variety.com/article/VR1118014543.html?categoryid=13&cs=1Berlin Film Fest lines up star guests Banksy film 'Gift Shop' added to lineup By ED MEZA BERLIN — Pierce Brosnan, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jackie Chan are among the stars expected to attend this year's Berlinale, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Fest topper Dieter Kosslick unveiled the main lineup on Monday, although most of the main selections had already been announced. The only addition to the main section was Sundance screener "Exit Through the Gift Shop," helmed by U.K. graffiti artist Banksy, which screens out of competish. A total of 26 films from 18 countries unspool in this year's main section, 20 of them in competition for the Golden and Silver Bears. Among the high-profile pics are Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer," starring Brosnan and Ewan McGregor, and Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island," with DiCaprio, Rob Epstein's "Howl," with starring James Franco, and Michael Winterbottom's "The Killer Inside Me," with Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba. Other contenders and and non-competition screeners include Karan Johar's "My Name Is Khan," starring Shah Rukh Khan; Oskar Roehler's "Jud Suess — Film ohne Gewissen" and Benjamin Heisenberg's "The Robber." Werner Herzog heads this year's jury, which also includes Renee Zellweger among its seven members. In honor of the late director Eric Rohmer, who passed away last month, the fest will screen "Pauline at the Beach," which won the best director Silver Bear in 1983, as part of the Berlinale Special sidebar. Some 400 films will unspool in the festival's various sections, which also include Panorama, Forum, Generation, Perspektive Deutsches Kino and Culinary Cinema. In addition, the Berlinale will fete Japanese helmer Yoji Yamada with its Berinale Camera award. Yamada's latest work, "Otouto" (About Her Brother), about a woman who looks after her troubled sibling, closes this year's fest following the official awards ceremony. The fest presents the Berlinale Camera to personalities or institutions to which it feels particularly indebted. Also receiving the special prize are Ulrich and Erika Gregor, who founded the International Forum of New Cinema with the Friends of Deutsche Kinemathek (known since 2008 as Arsenal — Institute for Film and Video Art) in 1969 as a counter event and alternative to the established festival. It eventually became part of the Berlinale in 1971. The fest is presenting Berlin fine art foundry Noack with a Camera as well for its long-time association with the Berlinale. The company has cast the Golden and Silver Bears, originally designed by sculptor Renee Sintenis, since the first Berlin Film Festival in 1951.
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