History Film / TheGhostWriter

* MeanBrit: The Ghost, who's kind of a cynical {{Jerkass}}.

Not to be confused with the children's television series ''Series/{{Ghostwriter}}''. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostwriter this article]] on Wiki/ThatOtherWiki for an explanation about the ''word'' "ghostwriter". Also, not related with [[Literature/TheGhostWriter the Australian psychological horror novel]].

* CIAEvilFBIGood: The first half of this is upheld. In fact the CIA are depicted as ''so'' Evil that [[spoiler:they even push little old ladies down stairs.]]

* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Lang's aide is always very strict about the Ghost not assessing the manuscript or using any of the existing pages of it. Subverted at the end where she admits that she didn't have any problem with that herself and only said thet due to orders from the security detail.

** Adam Lang is a very obvious stand-in for Tony Blair (former British Prime Minister, involved in a war in Iraq, friend of the United States) [[note]] Robert Harris had made Blair's acquaintance during his time as a BBC journalist, but became increasingly disillusioned with Blair's premiership. Part of his motivation for writing the book was said disillusionment. [[/note]]

** Adam Lang is based on Tony Blair (former British Prime Minister, involved in a war in Iraq, friend of the United States).

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Kroll and the publisher, during the meeting where they discuss hiring The ghost.

* [[spoiler:ShootTheShaggyDog]]: [[spoiler: Our [[NoNameGiven ghost]] protagonist gets killed offscreen without accomplishing anything.]]

* SleepingWithTheBosssWife: The Ghost sleeps with Mrs. Lang, the wife of his employer.

--> '''The Ghost:''' People want to know what it's like to be the Prime Minister. What it's like to rule a ''country''? What it's like to be hated. ''([[{{Beat}} Awkward pause as Lang stares at him]])'' [[VerbalBackspace ...and loved!]]

* {{Jerkass}}: The Ghost himself.

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Adam Lang. While he is killed, he gets treated as a hero and a martyr.]]

* NoNameGiven: The eponymous ghostwriter, identified only as [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep "The Ghost"]].

''The Ghost Writer'', also known in the UK as ''The Ghost'', is a 2010 political thriller based on [[Literature/TheGhost2007 the novel]]by Creator/RobertHarris, directed by Creator/RomanPolanski and starring Creator/EwanMcGregor, Creator/PierceBrosnan, Creator/OliviaWilliams, and Creator/KimCattrall.

An unremarkable and unnamed ghostwriter ([=McGregor=]) has landed a lucrative contract to redact the memoirs of Adam Lang (Brosnan), the former British Prime Minister ([[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on]] UsefulNotes/TonyBlair). After dominating British politics for years, Lang has retired to the United States with his wife Ruth (Williams). Soon, Adam Lang gets embroiled in a major scandal with international ramifications that reveals how far he was ready to go in order to nurture the UK's "special relationship" with the USA. But before this controversy has started, before even he has closed the deal with the publisher, the ghostwriter gets unmistakable signs that the turgid draft he is tasked to put into shape inexplicably constitutes highly sensitive material.

''The Ghost Writer'', also known in the UK as ''The Ghost'', is a 2010 political thriller based on [[Literature/TheGhost2007 a novel by Robert Harris]], directed by Creator/RomanPolanski and starring Creator/EwanMcGregor, Creator/PierceBrosnan, Creator/OliviaWilliams, and Creator/KimCattrall.

An unremarkable ghostwriter ([=McGregor=]) has landed a lucrative contract to redact the memoirs of Adam Lang (Brosnan), the former UK Prime Minister ([[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on]] UsefulNotes/TonyBlair). After dominating British politics for years, Lang has retired to the United States with his wife Ruth (Williams). Soon, Adam Lang gets embroiled in a major scandal with international ramifications that reveals how far he was ready to go in order to nurture the UK's "special relationship" with the USA. But before this controversy has started, before even he has closed the deal with the publisher, the ghostwriter gets unmistakable signs that the turgid draft he is tasked to put into shape inexplicably constitutes highly sensitive material.

* AmbiguousInnocence: At the beginning of the movie, after Lang's lawyer, Sid Kroll and the publisher hire him, Kool gives the Ghost a manuscript from another client to consider as his next project. The Ghost is mugged for that manuscript shortly afterwards, suspects the muggers were after Lang's manuscript, and wonders if Kroll deliberately gave him the other manuscript in order to see if anyone did try to steal it. The idea isn't impossible, but does seem unlikely due to none of Kroll's behavior later on referencing this, or indicating involvement with the people who really want to suppress that manuscript.

* {{Eagleland}}: Type II, (with the government, although the civilians mostly get a pass). The American government, or at least the CIA, is portrayed as unscrupulously manipulating foreign leaders for their own illegal agendas, and their regfuals to honor the judgment of International w crimes courts (along with other powers that mainly consist of dictatorships) is mentioned. The old man played by Creator/EliWallach also describes the current President (an apparent party to all of this) as an idiot and comments that it's a shame someone like Lang got involved with him. The American publisher is also a bit boorish, albeit reasonable, while hiring the Ghost.

* AmbiguousInnocence: At the beginning of the movie, after Lang's lawyer, Sid Kroll and the publisher hire him, Kool gives the Ghost a manuscript form another client to consider as his next client. The Ghost is mugged for that manuscript shortly afterwards, suspects the muggers were after Lang's manuscript, and wonders if Kroll deliberately gave him the other manuscript in order to see if anyone did try to steal it. The idea isn's impossible, but does seem unlikely due to none of Kroll's behavior later on referencing this, or indicating involvement with the people who really want to suppress that manuscript.

* YourCheatingHeart: Engaged in by both Langs, although Mrs. Lang appears to be motivated by revenge rather than any genuine attraction.

* DiabolusExMachina: [[spoiler: In the final scene, The Ghost is hit by an accelerating car without any apparent purpose.]]

* TheWarOnTerror: The cause of Adam Lang's scandal.

* EvilInc: Hatherton.

''The Ghost Writer'', also known in the UK as ''The Ghost'', is a 2010 political thriller based on a novel by Robert Harris, directed by Creator/RomanPolanski and starring Creator/EwanMcGregor, Creator/PierceBrosnan, Creator/OliviaWilliams, and Creator/KimCattrall.

* HeroAntagonist: Richard Rycart.

* IdiotBall: [[spoiler:That's right, ghost writer, let TheMole know that you know her secret, even though you know she can and will have you killed for knowing it. And certainly don't ''tell'' anyone else.]]
** [[spoiler:He could have easily called someone on his cell phone off screen. And there is the possibility he didn't die either...]]
*** What difference would calling someone have made? He has no evidence other than the [[spoiler: manuscript for his claims, given both the previous ghost and Rycart have died. That is in and of itself not really evidence anyone would pay attention to, and anyway, the pages are blown away after he is hit, so even if he survives, he won't have that]]
** [[spoiler: Mike was killed by the CIA, they wouldn't have risked killing him in England.]]
** [[spoiler: Better dealt with in the novel, but yeah, for the movie, very IdiotBall.]]