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List Price: $19.95 | | Label: Suffering Man's Char
Salesrank: 37026
Released: January 6, 2009 |
| Our Price: $4.46 |
| Used Price: $3.48 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
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)
Ghost Writer Reviews:
Ghosts Writer 
2009-11-14 - This DVD was not for me. If it were'nt for the cast and their previous performances I would'nt have purchased this dvd on it's own merits as it did not justify their true acting abilities. The dialogue is too long winded and totally above my comprehensive level. The crux of the story line came too late and finished rather open ended. I consider myself to be in to a good story but didn't feel it in this instance. My apologies to others who may find it gripping.
A MESS OF A MOVIE
2009-10-05 - This movie was a mess but it had a few interesting moments, enough to rate it just below average. It was like watching an art house film that you couldn't understand - except it was missing the "art" part. I got the whole homage to those old campy movies but it did not work.
This movie starred great actors: Alan Cummings (he also directed the movie), David Boreanaz, and Henry Thomas. There were plenty of interesting supporting characters. Karen Black's portrayal of a old slag was brilliant! Carrie Fischer was great to watch as well. The plot was suitably creepy with an older man picking up hustlers and attempting to better them but having things run amok with his newest discovery. The finished product fell flat.
The movie is unrated and serves up a heaping plate of graphic sexual conversation with a side of violence. By the end of it, this movie had me thinking who did these actors owe? This movie was released straight to dvd for a reason.
Worst Movie ever seen 
2009-03-18 - It was one of the worst movies I have ever seen! David Boreanaz really stooped to a new low to get into a movie like that!
ghost writer
2009-03-07 - omg horrible!!!!!! made no sense just seemed to go on forever. i don't know why david boreanaz would stoop to playing such a awful role!!!! bloody for no reason, dialog sucked ect.
Whatever Happened to Alan Cumming?" 
2008-12-11 - "Ghost Writer"
Whatever Happened to Alan Cumming
Amos Lassen
It's been a while since we have seen Alan Cumming in a film but he is back--not only as star but as director of "Ghost Writer", a grand guignol of a film with allusions to "Sunset Boulevard" and "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane". Here is a personification of himself and he gives us a black comedy that is refreshing and surprising. The film was originally entitled "Suffering Man's Charity" and in it Cummings cast himself as John Vandermark, a recluse who has seen better days (shades of Bette Davis). The movie is pure camp from start to finish.
John is scorned by Sebastian St. Germain (David Boreanaz), a hunk, and John is out for revenge and the way he goes about it will keep you laughing. Along the way we meet some interesting people played by a bevy of stars including Karen Black, Anne Heche, Carrie Fisher and the always wonderful Jane Lynch.
John takes in Sebastian. A struggling writer (aren't we all?) who outstays his welcome. Eventually John realizes that Sebastian has merely been using him so he looks for a way to gain comeuppance. He decides to make him work to pay off what he owes him in rent but Sebastian dies suddenly. John, feeling guilty, helps to get Sebastian's book published posthumously and then take credit for it. However, Sebastian rises from the dead and comes back to haunt John.
Alan Cumming obviously is a man of talent but here he is way over the top. He is entertaining but his character is never fully constructed and when he goes mad, we are not really sure who he is. In fact, he comes across as half-baked and that is too bad because this film has great potential. The script is also weak. Cumming as a gay music teacher with a penchant for hustlers is nor sure how to act around a guy like Sebastian who has sense. John acts out his life in excess, as is his character from what I could surmise and he is not at all likeable. The role was obviously a challenge for Cumming but it just does not fit him.
The movie seems strange and bizarre and silly. The plot is totally unpredictable (which can sometimes be a good thing but not so in "Ghost Writer"). I so wanted to love this film and hope that it might become a cult classic. It still might become just that. Even with my criticism, this is a film that must be seen because of what it is.
