The Ghost Writer | pinartarhan.com

Coupling character Steve (Jack Davenport) states in one episode that one of the things all heterosexual men in common is that their favorite Bond is Sean Connery. That might be true. But I am a girl and my favorite Bond is Pierce Brosnan. This might be due to the fact that Pierce became 007 about the same time I developed an appetite for movies, entertainment and well, good-looking men. Pierce is not only my favorite Bond but also one of my favorite actors. And while I appreciate everything Ian Flemming and Hollywood have done for us, I’ll exclude the Bond films from this list. Because yes, Pierce has made even more entertaining, intriguing and/or challenging films.

After the Sunset starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek and Woody Harrelson

This is one great action/comedy with a touch of sexy romance co-starring the ever-gorgeous Salma Hayek. Here, Brosnan plays a middle-aged thief who has promised his younger and hot girlfriend and partner in crime Salma Hayek that this would be their final heist. But agent Woody Harrelson is dying to catch him. He tracks them to their tropical island and tries to collaborate with beautiful local female cop. Does he have what it takes to catch Max? Or will Max try to pull his biggest heist ever, while trying not to lose the love of his life in the process?

Exotic location, beautiful leads, smart plots and fun action. This movie may not be deep, but it will show you a good time if you let it.

Evelyn starring Pierce Brosnan, Julianna Margulies and Aidan Quinn

Ireland, 1950s. When out of work painter Desmonf Doyle (Pierce Brosnan) is dumped by his wife, he has to take care of his 3 children. But social norms and laws of the time don’t seem all that willing to let a broke father keep his kids. So the fight of his life starts, as he changes his life, finds work and fights against the Irish Constitution. Brosnan is terrific as the loving father, desperate to win his case. Co-starring are Julianna Margulies (as the beautiful bartender), Aidan Quinn (as his attorney).

Butterfly on a Wheel starring Gerard Butler, Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello

Co-starring Maria Bello and Gerard Butler, this is one of my favorite movies ever. This is a great, low-budget thriller (as in decent quality and a great script that doesn’t require special effects). Abby (Maria Bello) and her husband Neil (Gerard Butler) seem like the perfect couple. He has a great job in advertising; they have a lovely daughter and a solid marriage. Or so it seems.

When a weekend requires the couple to leave their child with a babysitter, things change for the worse:

Before Abby can meet her friend and Neil can meet his boss, they are taken hostage in their car by a gun man (Pierce Brosnan) they have never seen before. They have to meet his demands or they will never see their daughter again. However, as it turns out, this man is not exactly after money. The problems in their marriage and trust issues resurface as they try to do their best with the strange and challenging requests of this man. What does he want? And why does he hate them so much?

This movie is original, smart and well-paced. The acting is top-notch as expected and it is fun watching Butler playing such a grey character. And it also has one of my favorite movie endings.

Top 5 Movie Endings feat. Se7en, Man from Earth, Butterfly on a Wheel and More

Seraphim Falls starring Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson

Seraphim Falls starring Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan.

A great western/drama/thriller where Liam Neeson has hired a bunch of men to do one thing alone: to kill his nemesis, Pierce Brosnan.

It doesn’t seem exactly right for those men to go after one man – who doesn’t strike you as a villain at all. Is this a simple fight for survival between good or evil or are things much more complicated than they seem?

Very solid and engaging. It is always a pleasure watching Neeson or Brosnan. It is definitely a fine move to put them together in a different kind of western movie.

Seraphim Falls Review

Remember Me starring Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Lena Olin, Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper

Remember Me starring Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper and Lena Olin. Wonderful drama/ romance.

I watched this movie after I had originally finished this post so it was added later. While the trailer was not really promising, the movie is a heart-felt and decent effort at a drama/romance that will stay with you even after the end credits roll. Sure, some hate it but trust me, it deserves a chance. Especially if you’re only familiar with Pattinson from his Twilight role.

* Ultimate fun for romantic comedy lovers: Laws of Attraction

Laws of Attraction starring Julianne Moore and Pierce Brosnan. A sweetheart of a romcom. Funny too.

*Also Recommended: The Ghost Writer starring Pierce Brosnan, Evan McGregor and Kim Catrall

The Ghost Writer starring Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor and Kim Catrall. Image via actorsandcrew.com

I am not a Polanski fan and I don’t particularly enjoy Evan McGregor movies but this is one decent drama thriller. Not the most entertaining Brosnan role, but one of the most interesting plots.

The Ghost Writer Review

What are your Brosnan favorites?

The Ghost Writer starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Catrall and Olivia Williams. Directed by Roman Polanski, 2010. Image via kampusteyiz.com

A ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) is a little bit reluctant about his next assignment. He is not all that into writing a politic memoir, especially when the ghost writer hired before him ended up dead. And while the cause of death is considered to be either suicide or accident, it doesn’t sound like the perfect job. However his agent and the promised fat paycheck persuades him to take on the job.

The memoir he’ll be ghost-writing is of former prime minister of UK, Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan). His working conditions are far from ideal as he is not allowed to copy or take out the manuscript, has only one month to finish it, the house of Lang’s is in the middle of nowhere, Lang has a discontent wife (Olivia Williams) who is followed by bodyguards wherever she goes and totally despises Lang’s perfectionist assistant Amelia Bly (Kim Catrall), who she suspects of having an affair with her husband.

The conditions get worse when Lang gets accused of war crimes and people are making frantic protests in front of his house. Because of the chaos, now our ghost writer has to stay in the house, and in his dead predecessor’s room. The publishers also want the book finished 2 weeks sooner.

Things get complicated as our writer is not sure who to trust and becomes increasingly convinced that the previous ghost writer was murdered. But who wanted him dead? What the hell is in that memoir? And will they be coming after him as well, whoever they are?

Directed by Roman Polanski, written/adapted by Roman Polanski and Robert Harris, based on the book called The Ghost, written by Robert Harris. The Ghost Writer is a solid, albeit a little slow-paced drama-mystery-thriller with a stellar cast. Pierce Brosnan certainly looks the part of a handsome-actor-turned-politician, Ewan is perfectly tailored for his role and who can blame an ice-cold wife Ruth Lang (icily portrayed by (Olivia Williams) for suspecting her husband was sleeping with his assistant that comes in the form of Kim Catrall, a.k.a Sex and The City’s Samantha. The slow pace is not a negative thing as the movie always holds your attention and keeps you guessing. Some viewers complained about the ending but I personally loved it. 7.8 on Imdb. I probably wouldn’t go as far to rate it a 7.8, but it is definitely above 7. You don’t always find intelligent entertainment. Thumbs up.

***

Note: I didn’t read the book. But I am tempted to read Robert Harris’s books.

Fun Note: Adam Lang’s lawyer is played by Timothy Hutton, star of the heist thriller TV series Leverage.

And the ghost is hired by a bald James Belushi.

***

Must-See Pierce Brosnan Movies feat. Butterfly on a Wheel, Remember Me, Seraphim Falls & More

The Ghost Writer starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan and Kim Catrall