Polanski's "Ghost"
The only thing that scares me about Roman Polanski's intention to direct an adaptation of Robert Harris's "The Ghost", a just-published political thriller, is a statement given to Variety's Tatiana Siegel by Harris that "most of the story takes place in an oceanfront house during the middle of winter," which Harris called "classic Polanski territory."
What Harris means, I suspect, is that an oceanfront home is precisely the same kind of setting Polanski used in Death and the Maiden (1994), a well-written parlor drama that ranks in everyone's memory as a respectable but middling, and even a touch boring. Note to Polanski and Harris: minimize the oceanfront home scenes and take the story elsewhere. I don't care if it's a bathroom in a freeway pit-stop gas station -- just don't resuscitate Death and the Maiden....please!
The Amazon description of Harris's book: "Adam Lang [read: Tony Blair] has been Britain's longest-serving and most controversial prime minister of the last half century. And now that he's left office, he's accepted one of history's largest cash advances to compose a tell-all (or at least, tell-some) memoir of his life and years of power.
"As pressure mounts for Lang to complete this magnum opus, he hires a professional ghostwriter to finish the book. As he sets to work, the ghostwriter discovers many more secrets than Lang intends to reveal -- secrets with the power to alter world politics, [and] secrets with the power to kill."
An Amnazon reader reports that "the primary setting for 'The Ghost' is Martha's Vineyard in the winter."
1994)
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 8, 2007 at 10:31 AM
comment #1
BurmaShave
says ...
I haven't read the book, only a few have yet, but who does anyone hope to see cast as the Prime Minister?
Posted by BurmaShave
at November 8, 2007 11:21 AM
comment #2
Noel Murray
says ...
Also THE TENANT. And CUL-DE-SAC. And REPULSION. And ROSEMARY'S BABY. And KNIFE IN THE WATER.
Polanski's always been pretty big on confining most of the action in his films to one location.
Posted by Noel Murray
at November 8, 2007 11:32 AM
comment #3
JD
says ...
You took the words out of my mouth, Noel. This sounds great. And Death and the Maiden is not boring!
Posted by JD
at November 8, 2007 11:35 AM
comment #4
bmcintire
says ...
DEATH AND THE MAIDEN was as stagy as the play it came from. Even the outdoor shots of the yard read like a set. Not to say it wasn't acted or directed well, but the source material limitations seemed to be on display in spades. A decidedly lesser effort - though not as bottom-rung as THE NINTH GATE.
Posted by bmcintire
at November 8, 2007 11:47 AM
comment #5
Rich S.
says ...
Is Polanski trying to make it up to Harris for passing on Pompeii?
Posted by Rich S.
at November 8, 2007 11:56 AM
comment #6
WJ
says ...
I've only read two of Harris' novels, Pompeii and Enigma, and they're both fairly good. Not earth shattering, but he exudes a sense of historical accuracy (underline "sense") and realism while creating an interesting plot.
I think Pompeii would make for a good historical/adventure epic. However, the costs of recreating the location and events would require a LOTR-type budget. At this point (if ever), I don't think Polanski could command a budget that high. If the book ever makes it to the screen, it'll probably be hacked to bits like I, Robot or the upcoming I Am Legend.
Posted by WJ
at November 8, 2007 12:36 PM
comment #7
Matthew Lucas
says ...
"I haven't read the book, only a few have yet, but who does anyone hope to see cast as the Prime Minister?"
Michael Sheen? ;-)
Posted by Matthew Lucas
at November 8, 2007 12:44 PM
comment #8
BurmaShave
says ...
Haha, he might he Blaired out. FYI to all, Peter Morgan's sensational THE DEAL is being broadcast on HBO tonight at 9.
Posted by BurmaShave
at November 8, 2007 1:54 PM
comment #9
Doug Pratt
says ...
I find that Death and the Maiden becomes more enjoyable with each viewing. Its something about the atmosphere and the methodical nature of the narrative. It grows on you.
Posted by Doug Pratt
at November 8, 2007 3:06 PM
comment #10
Gatrios2010
says ...
I wonder if the Jeffster would feel the same about Polanski if it was his 13 year old son's anus dripping with Roman's cum. "Jett, think of the great movies he's made, you just can't press charges. Anyway, if Polanski pays enough I can finally buy those movie stills of naked Vinessa Shaw"
Posted by Gatrios2010
at February 17, 2010 10:54 PM