Ghost Writer (2007/Genius DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Feature: C-

 

 

With someone as talented as Alan Cumming, I expected his directing project Ghost Writer (2007) to be something bold and different, but after a mixed start, it becomes the gay artsy equivalent of torture porn with his art-teacher John eventually tying up and torturing/insulting another man (David Boreanaz) who is a writer.  It is bizarre how while this is going on, we go form narrative and a script to high art versions of pop culture questions (do you know how to spell certain classical composers, etc.) and you wonder if this is supposed to be comedy?

 

Well, no, even if intended.  In addition, the film wastes Anne Heche, Karen Black, Carrie Fisher, Henry Thomas and Jane Lynch, all who are not given much to do of interest and seems much longer than its 93 minutes.  If it were not for the cast, this would be some gay cinema curio that was an outright bomb.  Thomas Gallagher wrote this and is as much as fault as anyone here.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot on digital video, likely HD and has serious detail limits, motion blur, color issues and the downtrade to DVD is likely the least of its problems.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is problematic with little soundfield and it is still better than what you see.  A feature length commentary by Cumming is the only extra.  Unless there are in-jokes to be missed, abduction is never funny, less funny than ever and Ghost Writer is a bore with wasted potential left and right.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo