Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)As the blurb states, there is no such thing as over-the-top in this feature -- it IS over-the-top, and the result of Cumming's writing/directing is one of the most enjoyable, albeit quite ghoulish, arthouse films I've ever seen.
The movie centers around John Vandermark, a strange, angry and rather dislikeable man who has an admitted weakness for very handsome struggling young male artists. Enter Sebastian St. Germaine, a gorgeous author who is currently taking advantage of Vandermark's "charity" by staying in Vandermark's house, eating his meals, and ignoring his thinly veiled sexual advances.
The movie takes off from there in an explosion of fury and extremely dark comedy, blood and hysteria. David Boreanaz plays Sebastian to perfection as a dark, angry man who is also rather abusive and egotistic, and his performance as the young man (who is eventually murdered in a scene of gruesome macabre that is too memorable to go into detail here; you'd have to see it to believe it) is one of his best to date.
However, Alan Cumming's performance as John Vandermark is really the one that will stick with you. It's like watching a lunatic running through a hallway of funhouse mirrors; constantly shifting in a dizzying whirl. He cries and whines, he screams and tortures, he laughs and breaks into hysterics. His performance is pitch-perfect and his directing is, while not groundbreaking, definitely something different to see.
This movie is incredibly artistic and feeling, probing into the darkness of obsession and the explosions of passion therein with devastating effect. There aren't really any light moments throughout the film; but that only makes the overall theme of loss and obsession easier to maintain. Boreanaz and Cumming deliver amazing performances and make their characters really come to life, and they were the high points of this movie. However, memorable performances were also given by Anne Heche and of course Carrie Fisher.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys independant/arthouse films, but also to anyone who enjoys dark humor, the macabre, and the gore-splattered art. I was lucky enough to see this on a big screen, and I believe the DVD will not be lacking.
WARNINGS: This is a very dark film, and there is a scene of physical torture. The death scene is one of the most amazing in the movie and the shining point in particular of Boreanaz's acting performance, but it is very graphic and incredibly disturbing. Although this is not rated, be warned that there is blood, sex, and swearing, and nudity if my memory serves.
RECOMMENDATIONS: If you enjoyed this film, the extremely disturbing and highly enjoyable art film "Perfume: The Scent of a Murder" would also be highly recommended. Another David Boreanaz film with rather disturbing black humor subject matter that you may also enjoy would be the Canadian independant film "These Girls."
Click Here to see more reviews about: Ghost Writer (2007)
There's no such thing as going too far for John (Alan Cumming, X-Men 2, "Tin Man"), a control-freak music teacher obsessed with his handsome lodger Sebastian (David Boreanaz, "Bones"), an aspiring author. When Sebastian threatens to leave, John is driven to punish the writer - with shocking results. Then, after a literary agent (Anne Heche, "Men in Trees") comes calling, John hatches a plot to find the fame and fortune he craves. An intense and over-the-top thriller, Ghost Writer will leave you at a loss for words. Also starring Henry Thomas, Jane Lynch, Karen Black and Carrie Fisher.Stills from Ghost Writer (Click for larger image)
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