Running time:128 mins. Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor, Kim Cattrall, Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson, Jon Bernthal. Director: Roman Polanski.

FOR a film about the re-writing of a political memoir, it’s deliciously ironic that the screenplay for Roman Polanski’s thriller should be one of its weaknesses.

Characters are not fully formed in a script co-written by Polanski and Robert Harris, adapting his novel of the same name.

Indeed, they are ciphers in a clunky and contrived plot that builds to a big reveal, which would be risible in less accomplished hands.

Not that The Ghost doesn’t have its fair share of unintentional laughs: Ewan McGregor’s accent could be an affectionate tribute to Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins, and the trail of clues left for his character to unravel the deadly conspiracy is unmistakable.

Polanski polishes the lacklustre material and his impeccable style creates the illusion of suspense where our steady pulse tells us there is none.

Former British Prime Minister, Adam Lang (Brosnan), takes up residence in a remote, state-of-the-art beach house on the American coast, far from the prying lenses of the media. The statesman intends to write his memoirs but when his current ghost writer dies in suspicious circumstances, Lang hires another nameless Ghost (McGregor) to restructure his prose.

“What have you gotten me into?” the Ghost asks his agent (Bernthal), when he realises the magnitude of the task at hand.

”I’ve gotten you into a quarter of a million dollars,” cackles the money man.

The politician’s loyal and sexy assistant, Amelia (Cattrall), and his savvy wife, Ruth (Williams), keep an eye on the Ghost and distract him from the arduous task at hand.

”All the words are there, they are just in the wrong order,” grins the Ghost, sparking a frisson of sexual flirtation with Ruth.

When Lang is accused of sanctioning torture during his time in office, the Ghost witnesses a category five media storm and the subsequent clamour to repair Lang’s reputation.

The writer puts his skills to good use, helping Amelia draft a press statement robustly denying the allegations.

At the same time, the Ghost attempts to solve the mystery of his predecessor’s demise.