DVD--The Ghost Writer

or: The Ghost who uncovers things.

One word to sum it up: Intriguing.

If I were to say 'Roman Polanski', people not so up with the film world (and his classics such as Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown) would probably only know one thing about him: that infamous rape scandal. In a way, that thing alone makes The Ghost Writer, his latest film, an even stronger one. You see, during the making of this film, he was put under arrest. He finished editing the film from a Swiss prison and continued making all the artistic decisions while he was under house arrest. And even though Polanski wasn't able to set foot in America due to extradition, he made this film look as American as it possibly could have been. With all these problems, Polanski managed to make a pretty flawless looking film, and perhaps one of the best films from last year.

It's based on Robert Harris' novel 'The Ghost', but it's also been called for the several similarities it has with the story of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. An unremarkable ghost-writer (Ewan McGregor) has landed a contract to shape the memoirs of Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), the former UK Prime Minister. After dominating British politics for years, Lang has retired with his wife (Olivia Williams) to the USA. He lives on an island, in luxurious, isolated premises complete with a security detail and a secretarial staff. Soon, Adam Lang gets embroiled in a major scandal that reveals how far he was ready to go in order to nurture UK's "special relationship" with the USA. But before this controversy has started, before even he has closed the deal with the publisher, the ghost-writer gets unmistakable signs that the draft he is tasked to put into shape mysteriously forms highly sensitive material.

I admit, political thrillers aren't really my cup of tea. When I see those words, it's like someone hit the snooze button in my brain. The Ghost Writer, on the flipside, gave my brain a good rattling. While it could be a bore for someone, I found this movie rich and intense, directed by a guy who knows how to make a good thriller. What makes me mad is the fact that this film was completely ignored come Oscar time. For example, Alexandre Desplat did a far better job with the music in this one, but he got all the acclaim for his work in The King's Speech. His music here contributed to an old-style kind of theme that makes this a suspense nearly in the league of Hitchcock. It's the kind of movie that will keep you guessing until the very end. And the tension just builds and builds. Slowly, but surely. The final shot, to me, is an absolute killer.

Leading the film is Ewan McGregor, who has had a spot in my heart since he was Christian in Moulin Rouge!...and what a great leading man he is. He plays a character simply known as 'The Ghost', but he anchors the film with his likability and vulnerability. And he was a far better choice for the role than Nicolas Cage. Pierce Brosnan made amends for his singing abilities in Mamma Mia! by playing the PM figure Adam Lang just the way a good actor should. Kim Cattrall takes a break from Sex and the City to do what she was born to do: be a good actress. It was strange seeing her in a dramatic role, but she did it well. Even if her American/Irish/Scottish/British accent was a little off the mark. The standout of the movie? Olivia Williams, by miles. Gosh, I loved her in this movie. She was so quietly horrible, and she just stole the show with her characterization and skill. She's the second biggest reason to watch this film after the all-round awesomeness that makes this film a definitive must-see.

THE VERDICT: The Ghost Writer is an excellently made thriller which is both intriguing and intense, with some great performances from it's cast and brilliant direction from Roman Polanski.

What I hoped for:

What I got:

DVD--Sex and the City 2

or: Grumpy old women in flashy clothes.

One word to sum it up: Bloated.

Once or twice I may have said--and this was very early in the year--that I was looking forward to watching Sex and the City 2, mainly because I liked the first one. However, upon seeing critics coming out in droves and absolutely trashing it, I really wasn't that interested in seeing it. I mean, seriously? A movie with four whiny middle-aged women wearing designer clothes and totting around in high heels living in fantasy land while the rest of us live in reality? The first one did well considering it was 'The Godfather of chick flicks'. Look at it this way: Sarah Jessica Parker is aging, and we no longer care for her and her friends exploits. They really over-cooked the big screen transition, and with news of a third one being in development, I think they are going to burn this series out.

What happens after you say 'I do'? Life is everything Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) ever wished it would be, but it wouldn't be right if life didn't hold a few more surprises. This time in the form of a glamourous adventure that whisks the women away from New York to one of the most luxurious and exotic places on earth, where the party never ends and there's something mysterious around every corner. It's an escape that comes exactly at the right moment for the four friends, who are finding themselves in the traditional roles of marriage, motherhood and more. After all, sometimes you just have to get away with the girls.

Sex and the City 2 isn't as exciting as that 'synopsis' made it out to be. The main plotline of the whole thing is Carrie taking a break from Big and the 'boring old married couple' life she thinks she is a part of. As you can imagine, stretching this rather thin plotline out over 140 minutes (about the length of Inception...imagine that) is like trying to tie an average size rubber band around a truck. The first few minutes shine, but unfortunately this easily becomes chick flick heaven and an average borefest. Here's some of the most exciting things that happen in the film: Liza Minnelli sings a few songs (!); Charlotte breaks down and thinks the nanny (played by Alice Eve who has a pretty spot on Irish accent) is going to have an affair with her husband; Carrie goes back to the old apartment (!); Penelope Cruz!; We go to Abu Dhabi in luxury; and well, the credits. Seriously, guys, what went wrong with this movie? You do know that not everyone isn't as into watching the lives of the well off in New York, especially when they have grown as annoying as these four ladies have? Scratch that, I still like Charlotte.

The moral of the story is: if you want a good girls night in, then get Sex and the City 2. If you think you can handle 140 minutes of nothing but the same women dealing with strange problems that you may not have cared about in the first place, then get Sex and the City 2. If you liked the first movie and the TV series, then you may still want to watch this movie. However, the best parts are still the clothes, which are thrown at the four women like they are clothes horses. I do have one strict message: ladies, don't drag your boyfriend/fiancee/husband into watching this. I can guarantee they will not be happy with you. This movie was only ever intended for women, and, unfortunately, I couldn't stomach this 140 minute piece of girl-power. Even if it was a bit better than I thought it would be. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease, don't make a third Sex and the City. For the sake of womanhood.


THE VERDICT: While it isn't as bad as some critics made it seem, Sex and the City 2 is still a very overcooked sequel, which seems to lose itself in it's bloated running time. Sarah Jessica Parker has truly lost her mojo.

4/10