Polanski directs new thriller, ‘The Ghost Writer’

Movie: "The Ghost Writer"

When: Opening Friday at Green Valley and Suncoast

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor, Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall

Director: Roman Polanski

The story: A former British prime minister, holed up in exile in a Cape Cod beach house to write his memoirs, finds himself at sea when his longtime aide drowns, prompting him to call in a professional ghostwriter -- who's quickly drawn into political and sexual intrigue, uncovering secrets that put his own life in jeopardy.

The buzz: Polanski, who won a best director Oscar for 2002's Holocaust drama "The Pianist," returns to the contemporary thriller for the first time since 1988's "Frantic" with this acclaimed adaptation of Robert Harris' award-winning 2008 best-seller "The Ghost." Harris joined Polanski in scripting the movie version. In addition to his stars, supporting players Timothy Hutton, Tom Wilkinson, Jim Belushi and Eli Wallach joined the director on location in Germany (and the North Sea island of Sylt) before the Polish director was placed under house arrest in Switzerland to await possible extradition to the United States for having unlawful sex with a minor in 1977.