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The Ghost Writer (soundtrack)

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The Ghost Writer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score by
Released23 February 2010
Recorded2009–10
GenreFilm score
Length42:12
LabelVarèse Sarabande
Alexandre Desplat chronology
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
(2009)
The Ghost Writer
(2010)
The Special Relationship
(2010)

The Ghost Writer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album to the 2010 film of the same name directed by Roman Polanski. Featuring musical score composed by Alexandre Desplat, it was released through Varèse Sarabande on 23 February 2010. The film marked the maiden collaboration between Polanski and Desplat, who would later collaborate on forthcoming films thereafter.

Critical reception[edit]

Thom Jurek of AllMusic assigned two-and-a-half out of five and wrote "As film music, this works wonderfully; as listening fare, it's a tad monotonous because of its predictable dynamics and pacing."[1]

Dana Stevens of Slate wrote "[Desplat's] music for The Ghost Writer, full of Bernard Herrmann-esque arpeggios and tinkling bells, is at once witty and genuinely suspenseful."[2] Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Alexandre Desplat's music prowls around underneath the scenes, channeling Bernard Herrmann's music for [Alfred] Hitchcock".[3] Kenneth Turan of Los Angeles Times wrote "Alexandre Desplat's driving score reminds us from its opening moments of the dynamic compositions of Hitchcock composer of choice Bernard Herrmann".[4]

Ed Gonzalez of Slant Magazine wrote "The score, by the great Alexandre Desplat, is racked with as much tension as Polanski's prismatically askew images, notable for their remarkably absorbing depth of field."[5] Fionnuala Halligan of Screen Daily wrote "Desplat's score is a delicious through line".[6] Mick LaSalle of SFGate wrote "Alexandre Desplat's cheerful musical score, which sounds like something for a 1960s romantic comedy, is in sync with Polanski's vision. It keeps pulling us back, too, inviting us to watch from a critical distance."[7]

Track listing[edit]

The Ghost Writer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) track listing
No.TitleLength
1."The Ghost Writer"1:41
2."Rhinehart Publishing"0:58
3."Travel to the Island"2:28
4."Lang's Memoirs"1:43
5."Chase on the Ferry"2:31
6."Suspicion"2:49
7."Investigation"2:07
8."Hidden Documents"2:09
9."The Old Man"1:17
10."In the Woods"3:40
11."Prints"1:45
12."The Predecessor"2:28
13."Pr Paul Emmett"5:39
14."Bicycle Ride"1:52
15."Lang and the CIA"2:21
16."The Truth About Ruth"4:55
17."The Ghost Writer" (Reprise)1:49
Total length:42:12

Accolades[edit]

Accolades for The Ghost Writer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipients Result
César Awards[8] 25 February 2011 Best Music Written for a Film Alexandre Desplat Won
European Film Awards[9][10] 4 December 2010 Best Composer
Los Angeles Film Critics Association[11] 12 December 2010 Best Music
World Soundtrack Academy[12] 23 October 2010 Soundtrack Composer of the Year

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Review: The Ghost Writer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  2. ^ Stevens, Dana (19 February 2010). "The Ghost Writer". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  3. ^ Honeycutt, Kirk (14 October 2010). "The Ghost Writer — Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ^ Turan, Kenneth (19 February 2010). "Review: Roman Polanski's 'The Ghost Writer'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  5. ^ Gonzalez, Ed (15 February 2010). "Review: The Ghost Writer". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  6. ^ Halligan, Fionnuala (12 February 2010). "The Ghost Writer (aka The Ghost)". Screen. Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ^ LaSalle, Mick. "Review: 'The Ghost Writer' a waking nightmare". SFGate. Archived from the original on 18 September 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  8. ^ Leffler, Rebecca (25 February 2011). "'Of Gods and Men' Named Best Film at France's Cesar Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  9. ^ Kemp, Stuart (6 November 2010). "'Ghost Writer' Leads European Film Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. p. 2. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  10. ^ Brooks, Xan (5 December 2010). "Roman Polanski film The Ghost Writer dominates European awards". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  11. ^ Kilday, Gregg (12 December 2010). "L.A. Film Critics Assn. Names 'Social Network' Best Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Alexandre Desplat wins Award for Film Composer and Best Film Score of the Year". World Soundtrack Academy. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2013.