# "The Ghost Writer" Leads Nominations For European Awards
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 7, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804 "2010-11-07T17:16:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/1 "2010-11-07T17:16:58Z")
I started a thread about Roman Polanski’s film, “The Ghost Writer” awhile back.
I think it was one of the best films of the year and it seems like [critics in Europe](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghost-writer-leads-european-film-42527) at least agree.
“The Ghost Writer has been nominated for seven European Film Awards, including best film, best director and best actor for star Ewan McGregor.”
I just convinced my brother to watch it last week (available on Netfilx) and he really liked it as well, so if you haven’t seen the film and have a Netflix account, check it out!
It is a really great mystery/espionage thriller; the kind of film that is perfect for a cold, rainy night. Get into the atmosphere and be swept into a well-crafted story of intrigue and suspense.
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### Author:  [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/2 "2010-11-07T21:09:54Z")
Didn’t see the movie, but I really enjoyed the book. Has Harris’ “Fatherland” ever been made into a movie?
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### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/3 "2010-11-07T21:21:23Z")
I went to see it on the strength of its reviews.
It wasn’t awful, I suppose, but slow, dull, and poorly characterized. It should have been much better.
---
### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/4 "2010-11-07T22:07:18Z")
Thanks for the link **DMark**. I’ve seen 3 of the 5 nominated films, and I agree with everything you say about **The Ghost Writer** , it’s a fantastic film, and I would not be surprised if it won in the nominated categories. It’ll be up against the excellent **The Secret In Their Eyes** though, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film at the last Oscars. Both have a better chance than **Lebanon** , which was good, but I can’t see it winning. The entire movie, save for the very beginning and very end, is set in a tank. Very claustrophobic. I’m looking forward to the ones I haven’t yet seen.
Man, The Hollywood Reporter is super sloppy. The story says that [Soul Kitchen](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244668/combined), which is one of my favorite movies of the year, is also nominated, so I got all excited. But if you click on the link to the nominations, it’s not listed. Plus, the HR story says “Gods and Monsters from France’s Xavier Beauvois” is nominated, but the movie is called “Of Gods and Men.” Geez.
Here are the nominees. I put in links to their IMDB pages.
_ **European Film Awards** _ 2010 Nominees
**European Film**
[“The Ghost Writer”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139328/combined) dir. [Roman Polanski](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/)
[“Honey”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571724/combined) dir. [Semih Kaplanoglu](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0969427/)
[“Of Gods and Men”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588337/combined) dir. [Xavier Beauvios](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0064741/)
[“Lebanon”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483831/combined) dir. [Samuel Maoz](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1413443/)
[“The Secret in their Eyes”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305806/combined) dir. [Juan Jose Campanella](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002728/)
**European Director**
[Roman Polanski](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/) for [“The Ghost Writer”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139328/combined)
[Olivier Assayas](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000801/) for [“Carlos”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1321865/combined)
[Semih Kaplanoglu](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0969427/) for [“Honey”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571724/combined)
[Samuel Maoz](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1413443/) for [“Lebanon”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483831/combined)
[Paolo Virzi](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0899501/) for [“The First Beautiful Thing”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1467273/combined)
**European Actress**
[Zrinka Cvitesic](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0194152/) in [“On the Path”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1156531/combined)
[Sibel Kekilli](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1402546/) in [“When We Leave”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288376/combined)
[Lesley Manville](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0544334/) in [“Another Year”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431181/combined)
[Sylvie Testud](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0856500/) in [“Lourdes”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405809/combined)
[Lotte Verbeek](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2551311/) in [“Nothing Personal”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320352/combined)
**European Actor**
[Ewan McGregor](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000191/) in [“The Ghost Writer”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139328/combined)
[Jakob Cedergren](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0147767/) in [“Submarino”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322385/combined)
[Elio Germano](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0314554/) in [“Our Life”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1509636/combined)
[George Pistereanu](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3951252/) in [“If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1590024/combined)
[Luis Tosar](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0869088/) in [“Cell 311”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242422/combined)
**European Screenwriter**
[Robert Harris](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0365249/) & [Roman Polanski](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/) for [“The Ghost Writer”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139328/combined)
[Jorge Guerricaechevarria](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0346277/) & [Daniel Monzon](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0600409/) for [“Cell 311”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242422/combined)
[Samuel Maoz](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1413443/) for [“Lebanon”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483831/combined)
[Radu Mihaileanu](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586123/) for [“The Concert”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320082/combined)
**Carlo di Palma Cinematography Award**
[Giora Bejach](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0067330/) for [“Lebanon”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483831/combined)
[Caroline Champetier](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005667/) for [“Of Gods and Men”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588337/combined)
[Pavel Kostomarov](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1018307/) for [“How I Ended this Summer”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588875/combined)
[Baris Ozbicer](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0994020/) for [“Honey”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571724/combined)
**European Editor**
[Herve de Luze](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0217959/)for [“The Ghost Writer”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139328/combined)
[Luc Barnier](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0056086/) & [Marion Monnier](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1520209/) for [“Carlos”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1321865/combined)
[Arik Lahav-Leibovich](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0495871/) for [“Lebanon”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483831/combined)
**European Production Designer**
[Albrecht Konrad](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0465293/) for [“The Ghost Writer”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139328/combined)
[Paola Bizzarri](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084714/) & Luis Ramirez for “[I, Don Giovanni](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458515/combined)” (both are uncredited, very odd)
[Markku Patila](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0701738/) & [Jaagup Roomet](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1823786/) for [“The Temptation of St. Tony”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1247696/combined)
**European Composer**
[Alexandre Desplat](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006035/) for [“The Ghost Writer”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139328/combined)
[Ales Brezina](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0108353/) for [“Kawasaki’s Rose”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1552197/combined)
[Pasquale Catalano](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0145840/) for [“Loose Cannons”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405810/combined)
[Gary Yershon](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0947665/) for [“Another Year”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431181/combined)
Besides **The Ghost Writer** , **The Secret In Their Eyes** and **Lebanon** , the only films I’ve seen on the list are **If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle** which was decent even if I wanted to slap the shit out of the lead character (the Best Actor nomination is very deserved. Some smart casting director should get George Pistereanu in Hollywood to play Ryan Phillipe or Channing Tatum’s brother); **The Concert** , which had some nice moments but overall I didn’t like; and **How I Ended This Summer** , which I absolutely hated, HATED! though the acting was excellent and it very much deserves the cinematography nomination and win.
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### Author:  [@Gil-Martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gil-Martin)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/5 "2010-11-07T22:58:49Z")
> [@Savannah](#):
>
> Didn’t see the movie, but I really enjoyed the book. Has Harris’ “Fatherland” ever been made into a movie?
Yes. It’s been years since I’ve seen it, but I remember that it was quite enjoyable. It stars Rutger Hauer.
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/6 "2010-11-07T23:49:15Z")
> [@Gil-Martin](#):
>
> Yes. It’s been years since I’ve seen it, but I remember that it was quite enjoyable. It stars Rutger Hauer.
And Miranda Richardson! I haven’t seen it or read the book, which I own. It’s always been in my One Of These Days pile.
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/7 "2010-11-08T01:14:50Z")
Oh, great, another prize on the shelf for the acclaimed pedophile and movie director. Gee, between Michael Jackson and Roman Polanski, we just can’t honor our talented pedophiles enough!
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### Author:  [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/8 "2010-11-08T01:36:56Z")
> [@Savannah](#):
>
> Didn’t see the movie, but I really enjoyed the book. Has Harris’ “Fatherland” ever been made into a movie?
The book was great, but I thought the film sucked the big one!
The biggest problem with the film is that they totally changed the ending - not just a bit, but totally changed it! After reading the book, I had recommended all my friends see the film when it was aired (on HBO or whatever?) and afterward, I emailed them all to apologize for making them sit through that crap!
Read the book, “Fatherland”, but avoid that crap film version at all costs!
---
### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/9 "2010-11-08T02:17:18Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#):
>
> Oh, great, another prize on the shelf for the acclaimed pedophile and movie director. Gee, between Michael Jackson and Roman Polanski, we just can’t honor our talented pedophiles enough!
Oh settle down. He hasn’t won anything. It’s just a nomination. I’m not going to condemn his work because he did a scumbaggy thing 30whatever years ago. He’s a great director who makes great films. And by the way, he’s not a pedophile. To call him one shows ignorance and cheapens the word and meaning. He was an opportunistic rapist.
---
### Author:  [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/10 "2010-11-08T04:46:28Z")
> [@Equipoise](#):
>
> Oh settle down. He hasn’t won anything. It’s just a nomination. I’m not going to condemn his work because he did a scumbaggy thing 30whatever years ago. He’s a great director who makes great films. And by the way, he’s not a pedophile. To call him one shows ignorance and cheapens the word and meaning. He was an opportunistic rapist.
Ooh, I’m sorry. He had sex with a 13 year old girl. He’s an epebephile! that makes it OH, SO RIGHT!
---
### Author:  [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/11 "2010-11-08T05:09:48Z")
> [@Gil-Martin](#):
>
> Yes. It’s been years since I’ve seen it, but I remember that it was quite enjoyable. It stars Rutger Hauer.
I did \*not \*know that.
(But Rutger Hauer isn’t at all like I picture the protagonist! Such is the case so often when I read the book first.)
Please excuse the derail and continue on with European cinema.
Edited to add that I liked the ending of the Harris book–it leaves things unresolved, eh? I likely won’t rent the movie version if that was changed.
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/12 "2010-11-08T05:31:56Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#):
>
> Ooh, I’m sorry. He had sex with a 13 year old girl. He’s an epebephile! that makes it OH, SO RIGHT!
_stares at Evil Captor_
Did I say it was right? No. It was as wrong as wrong could be.
---
### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/13 "2010-11-08T05:48:49Z")
I saw the movie in the theater, and I thought it was a well-made piece of claptrap.
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### Author:  [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/14 "2010-11-08T08:06:23Z")
> [@Savannah](#):
>
> Edited to add that I liked the ending of the Harris book–it leaves things unresolved, eh? I likely won’t rent the movie version if that was changed.
This thread is getting very confusing, with so many hijacks in so few posts - but I am partly at fault for doing this in my own thread.
**Savannah** , assuming you mean the ending of the book “Fatherland”, that is the HBO film version that butchered the original ending of that book.
Anyway - getting back to **The Ghost Writer** …I thought it was an excellent film and highly recommend seeing it.
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/15 "2010-11-08T13:30:24Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#):
>
> Oh, great, another prize on the shelf for the acclaimed pedophile and movie director. Gee, between Michael Jackson and Roman Polanski, we just can’t honor our talented pedophiles enough!
Ahem, Roman Polanski is not a pedophile. He’s a rapist. Do you really think the French would protect someone accused of something so horrible as pedophilia? I mean, what’s a little anal rape among 40 year old man and 15 year old girls?
---
### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/16 "2010-12-05T02:02:00Z")
> [@Equipoise](#):
>
> Oh settle down. He hasn’t won anything. It’s just a nomination.
Ok, I guess you can unsettle now.
[Roman Polanski’s ‘Ghost Writer’ Tops European Film Awards](http://www.thewrap.com/awards/column-post/roman-polanskis-ghost-writer-tops-european-film-awards-23008)
> [@](#):
>
> Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost Writer” was the big winner at Saturday’s European Film Awards, where it won awards for Best European Film, Best European Director and Best European Actor (Ewan McGregor), as well as receiving honors for its screenplay, music and production design.
The winners:
European Film Academy Animated Feature Film: **“The Illusionist”**
European Film Academy Documentary – **Prix Arte: “Nostalgia De La Luz” (“Nostalgia for the Light”)**
European Director: Roman Polanski, **“The Ghost Writer”**
European Actor: Ewan McGregor, **“The Ghost Writer”**
European Actress: Sylvie Testud, **“Lourdes”**
European Screenwriter: Robert Harris and Roman Polanski, **“The Ghost Writer”**
European Editor: Luc Barnier and Marioin Monnier, **“Carlos”**
European Composer: Alexandre Desplat, **“The Ghost Writer”**
Carlo Di Palma European Cinematographer Award: Giora Bejach, **“Lebanon”**
European Production Designer: Albrecht Konrad, **“The Ghost Writer”**
European Discovery – Prix Fipresci: **“Lebanon”**
The People’s Choice Award for Best European Film: **“Mr. Nobody”**
European Achievement in World Cinema: Gabriel Yared
European Film Academy Short Film: **“Hanoi – Warszawa”** (“Hanoi – Warsaw”)
European Co-Production Award – Prix Eurimages: Zeynep Ozbatur Atakan
European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award: Bruno Ganz
---
### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/17 "2010-12-05T02:20:06Z")
Saw it. Didn’t care for it. More “evil America” nonsense from Europe.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/18 "2010-12-05T02:30:32Z")
_Spectacular_ movie; I’m glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves.
**Evil Captor** , It’s been fifteen years since _Samantha Geimer_ said she forgave Polanski and didn’t think what happened back then ought to preclude him from being recognized as one of the greatest directors of all time. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone else could manage to get over it?
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/19 "2010-12-05T02:44:51Z")
If you want to talk about Roman Polanski’s sex life, start a new thread.
If you want to talk about the book or the movie _Fatherland_, start a new thread.
If you want to talk about the movie _The Ghost Writer_, the book it is based on, or the job that the director did with it, you’re in the right place.
Thanks,
**twickster** , Cafe Society moderator
---
### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ghost-writer-leads-nominations-for-european-awards/559804/20 "2010-12-05T03:01:07Z")
> [@Spoke](#):
>
> More “evil America” nonsense from Europe.
Uh, what? It has been over 9 months since I’ve seen it, but I don’t remember what America being evil had to do with it at all. Refresh my memory?
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