Ghost Writer (2007)

Just perfect...

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

As Good As It Gets

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Since I'm on this Alan Cumming obsession, I've decided to watch as many films with him in it as I can. I found this one called "Suffering Man's Charity" or… "Ghost Writer". And I noticed that it had gotten quite a few bad reviews. I was a bit surprised by this. And I was even more surprised when I had finished the entire movie. I found this film to be quite phenomenal. It was dark, twisted, and it really had very interesting, and in-depth characters. Alan Cumming's performance was truly brilliant. I hadn't really seen him portray that sort of role before, and it was honestly amazing to see. He was vulnerable, and innocent in a way. But then with a blink of an eye, his personality was completely different. He could switch his emotions with such intensity, and it was believable. To actually be able to get into the mindset of that character, it must've been truly difficult. I take my non-existent hat off to Mr. Alan Cumming. The story of this film was well thought out, and it was really actually quite simple. But the simplicity, mixed with the performance of the actors, it really brought this movie to life in the darkest of ways. This film does not deserve the bad reviews it had gotten. I really do recommend this film.

Before watching this film I thought it could go one of two ways, either be genius or be awful. It did neither and both. The plot was thin and not particularly rewarding, the character David Boreanaz played was weak and his acting was, as to be expected, fairly mediocre. So why have I given it 8 out of 10? Alan Cummings' performance was pure magic. In the previous review this was a criticism which surprises me. The reviewer is correct, it is dramatic, overblown and extremely theatrical, and as previously said, he isn't and is not meant to be a likable character but that doesn't make him any less of an interesting character to watch. You're given the sense that as the character becomes more and more dramatic and over-the-top, he couldn't stop himself if he tried or wanted to. The entire performance is an interesting portrayal of passion, rejection and obsession that in my opinion makes up for the weakness of the plot and surrounding characters. More theatrical than big screen but a fantastic performance by Alan Cummings regardless.

I did not enjoy this film, it seemed like it was sewn together and totally taken over by Cumming. This actor I feel is completely over-rated in my opinion so to see him acting in a film he had also directed was a bit much as it was all "Me, me, me!" I know the whole plot centres around his character, but there was no depth to it and it fell flat.A gay music teacher (Cummings) who picks up hustlers on a regular basis and gives them free bed and board and the use of his whole home and fixtures, finds out this young attractive man, whom he likens to "Warren Beatty in Splendour in the Grass," (David Boreanaz)has been hustling him and goes completely over the top. The acting is really terrible from Cummings and his accent sounded like it was based on watching Dustin Hoffman films.The plot was very sketchy and I watched it thinking it was going to end, but it didn't, it seemed to rattle on forever, even though it is a relatively short film. I would not call this comedy, nor would I call it horror, more like "Sufference" as in that's what most people are enduring while watching this piece of tripe.To me, Boreanaz in women's underwear and tied to a chair was someone's fantasy, director maybe? It had no point whatsoever. I know there are a lot of David Boreanaz fans out there, but please avoid this film like the plague, it is best forgotten, even if you do get to see his bottom a couple of times.

Saw this at the SF LGBT film festival and while Alan Cumming is wonderful and truly talented actor, he seems to be best with a director other than himself. This is a truly over the top movie and performance and it is entertaining but I felt there wasn't enough build up and character development before the insane behavior begins. Also the ending seemed tacked on and not really well connected to the main part of the film. the interaction between David and Alan are wonderful and the highlight of the film.Henry Thomas was a surprise in this scene and Karen Black stole her scene. I wish there had been more restraint in the editing, the performances and the script. It made me want to see Alan Cumming as a lead in film with a different director.