USA: The Ghost Writer, the new Roman Polanski thriller, premieres in New York City
Record ID:
220104
USA: The Ghost Writer, the new Roman Polanski thriller, premieres in New York City
- Title: USA: The Ghost Writer, the new Roman Polanski thriller, premieres in New York City
- Date: 19th February 2010
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 18, 2010) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) BROSNAN AND MCGREGOR ON THE RED CARPET CAMERAPERSONS MCGREGOR AND HIS WIFE EVE MAVRAKIS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EWAN MCGREGOR, ONE OF THE LEADS OF "THE GHOST WRITER", SAYING: "It's a shame that he's not with us because more than any of our sum parts in the picture, it's a Polanski movie. It is a Roman Polanski film and maybe more than most other directors I've worked with, he's a true maestro. I feel like in all the different departments and all the actors are like musicians in the orchestra, and Polanski is their conductor and he pulls everything together. And it's his movie, it's kind of a classic Polanski movie I think." CAMERAPERSONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EWAN MCGREGOR, ONE OF THE LEADS OF "THE GHOST WRITER", SAYING: "I always find acting, I try and keep it very simple. I like very much like that with Polanski I was able to underplay everything and he's very interested in the truth of a scene. How things really would play out as opposed to, he doesn't like to see any acting or anything. And because I was there from start to finish, I had the luxury of working with him every day. So I was able to kind of underplay the whole performance and I'm happy with that." BROSNAN WITH HIS WIFE KEELY SHAYE SMITH VARIOUS OF ACTRESS BROOKE SHIELDS ON THE RED CARPET POSTER OF THE FILM (SOUNDBITE) (English) BROOKE SHIELDS, ACTRESS, SAYING: "I feel bad that it's ironic and it's sort of sad. I feel bad that he's not able to. Hopefully, he's enjoying it, hopefully there's success that he can appreciate and enjoy and I think it's deserved. You just have to celebrate his genius and stop it at that."
- Embargoed: 6th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVACZX8YJBC1NTSW1H22X52WQOW9
- Story Text: Actors Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor walked the red carpet in Manhattan on Thursday (February 18) for the New York premiere of "The Ghost Writer."
The film has been earning good reviews at the Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale. It's a suspenseful thriller from Oscar Award winning director, Roman Polanski. He is currently under house arrest in Gstaad, Switzerland and has been unable to promote the film. He is fighting extradition to the United States to face sentencing over a 1977 case of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old.
"The Ghost Writer" is based on a novel by Robert Harris. In the film, a gifted author, played by McGregor, is hired to ghost write the memoirs of a controversial former British Prime Minister, a character eerily similar to Tony Blair. Brosnan plays Adam Lang, the fictional Prime Minister.
The political thriller is considered a strong contender for Berlinale's Golden Bear for best picture, which Polanski won in 1966 for "Cul-de-Sac."
Responding to the positive buzz around the film at Berlinale, Brosnan said, "It's always great to get good reviews. This is a very significant film for Roman Polanski, for Ewan McGregor, Olivia Williams and myself. The book was a great page turner by Robert Harris. The adaptation is very favorable in the story. Berlinale film festival is a very, 60 years old, so to walk up that red carpet and to get the wonderful response it's got, it's a very good feeling."
Both Brosnan and McGregor strongly support Polanski. Both said it was disappointing that Polanski was unable to promote the film or attend Berlinale.
"Everyone's disappointed that he can't be here, none more so than himself. We spoke to each other the night of the festival and he wished us well and we raised a glass to him in his absence. There was an empty space on the stage for him," Brosnan said.
While McGregor said that it was "a shame" that Polanski was not with the rest of the crew at Berlinale or New York.
"It's a shame that he's not with us because more than any of our sum parts in the picture, it's a Polanski movie. It is a Roman Polanski film and maybe more than most other directors I've worked with, he's a true maestro. I feel like in all the different departments and all the actors are like musicians in the orchestra, and Polanski is their conductor and he pulls everything together. And it's his movie, it's kind of a classic Polanski movie I think," McGregor said.
His thoughts were echoed by actress Brooke Shields, who came out in support of Polanski and the film. She said she hoped the director was enjoying the success of "The Ghost Writer" from afar.
"I feel bad that it's ironic and it's sort of sad. I feel bad that he's not able to. Hopefully, he's enjoying it, hopefully there's success that he can appreciate and enjoy and I think it's deserved. You just have to celebrate his genius and stop it at that," Shields said.
While "The Ghost Writer" opened in U.S. theaters Thursday (February 18), it's fate at Berlinale will be known only on February 20th when the awards ceremony is held. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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