Strange Timing & Motive In Polanski Arrest

[Jan Klimkowski]

Helen thanks - I agree that Polanski's directing of a movie version of Robert Harris' novel is potentially relevant to the timing here. Of course, if the script of "The Ghost" is faithful to the plot of the book, then it has a twist revealing another American intelligence asset close to the heart of power......

When I read it, I didn't regard Robert Harris' novel as particularly threatening to the political class, although I'm sure that talk of indicting western leaders for war crimes is in and of itself unwelcome for the likes of Blair and Bush.

Crucially, though, Polanski, who wrote the script with Harris, has completed principal filming. In other words, the material is largely shot, so the most logistically complex stage of making a movie is finished. The rushes are now awaiting the crafting and transformation that always takes place in the edit suite - primarily between editor and director (a 2-person, rather than hundred-plus person, process).

Polanski would of course regard his presence in the editing suite as essential. However, depending on the terms of his imprisonment, if he was able to negotiate access to the internet and a fast computer, he could potentially work with his editor from his prison cell.

If the aim of the arrest was to prevent Polanski making a version of "The Ghost", then They've left it a bit late.

However, if the final film when released is watered down, going easy on the "Blair" figure, then I would expect to see allegations that Polanski has been lent on to tone the movie down. Such claims can be examined as and when the film hits the silver screen....

Roman Polanski thriller The Ghost in jeopardy after director's arrest

One of next year’s most eagerly anticipated films, a star-studded thriller featuring a thinly disguised version of Tony Blair, is in jeopardy because of the arrest of Roman Polanski.

The Oscar-winning director had recently finished filming The Ghost, his adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name starring Pierce Brosnan. But the film is without a musical score and needs sound mixing and extra dialogue before a distributor can be found. With Polanski, who is in Switzerland, awaiting extradition proceedings to the US for having sex with a 13-year-old girl, there are fears that the negative publicity will ruin the film’s chances at the box office.

Polanski co-wrote the script with the book’s author Robert Harris.

Sources on the production of The Ghost, about a British prime minister facing indictment for war crimes, played by Brosnan, told The Times that they were determined to complete the final steps of the production process.

Timothy Burrill, a co-producer, said: “The film will continue. I honestly don’t want to say any more but we’re very close to finishing it now.” However, the final post-production steps are not a formality and Polanski is known for wanting to control every aspect of his films.

Polanski was detained at Zurich airport on Saturday as he arrived to collect a lifetime achievement award at the city’s film festival. According to Variety, the film industry magazine, The Ghost was scheduled for release in February. That date will almost certainly be missed as Polanski waits in custody.

“I am sure that Roman would have a very good idea of how this film would end up and he might be able to edit remotely via his editor,” said Ali Jaafar, international editor of Variety. “It will probably delay the process but it should not derail it entirely.”

The Ghost follows the story of a ghost writer, played by Ewan McGregor, whose research into the former British leader, thought to be modelled on Mr Blair, for his memoirs leads to dangerous revelations. Kim Cattrall and Olivia Williams also star.

Even if The Ghost is finished there are concerns that it could be Polanski’s last work if he is extradited. “If he ends up staying in jail then obviously it is going to have a huge impact on the film because it could be his last ever movie,” Jaafar said.

“And if he is able to resolve the film then it will be the first film since he has been released from jail, so either way it will be in the background.”

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/t...856134.ece