If you're into taught political thrillers (e.g., Clooney's, Michael Clayton, or Hitchcock's, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Notorious) you'll love this movie. If you'd rather not think, then watch Mama Mia! and get on with your life.
As thrillers go, The Ghost Writer has a tidy little - almost film-noir - premise. Out of work freelancer Ewan McGregor signs on to pen the memoirs of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan). The money's good - but there's a catch - the previous ghost writer died under "mysterious circumstances" and nobody's sure if the guy killed himself or someone else beat him to it.
Director Roman Polanski weaves a web of sexual intrigue and deceit that pits the poor ghost writer against the PM's dreary prose and a daunting deadline. On top of it all there are femme fatales to deal with (Kim Cattral in a nice performance that almost absolves her from Sex & the City I and II) and Olivia Williams (An Education). What's a poor ghost writer to do? Polanski has him doing plenty.
Before you can haul out your water board, Prime Minister Lang is accused of war crimes and McGregor's research is making waves across the pond. It seems that PM Lang may just be lying about his involvement with terrorists and the CIA. And when it becomes almost too much for the ghost writer to grasp, nice cameos by Eli Wallach and Tom Wilkinson help McGregor fill in the gaps. Spaces that, as far as the covert world are concerned, are best left unfilled.