paranoia Archives - The Cinema Archives

The Pianist – 2002 Polanski

Through editing Polanski has a true gift for creating paranoia. You can see it in rosemary’s baby, Chinatown, and ghost writer. It’s palpable as he slowly brings the pianist to a boil – there’s an unmistakable sense of horrific doom (of course here it's the holocaust) Known for Brody’s Oscar win- I still think DDL in gangs of new york is superior but Brody does a great job here and he’s a deserving Oscar winner. There’s weight loss, face manipulation (to show both weight loss and sickness) yet it’s a reserved performance- not showy at all which I

The Ghost Writer – 2010 Polanski

The film is so much better, and closer to Chinatown than critics gave it credit for in 2010. Including the Chinatown comparisons are little things like the hired help at the house on the ocean sweeping the never-ending grass off the deck (being blown on by wind) just like the saltwater pool in the backyard of Dunaway’s house in Chinatown There are also comparisons to both Chinatown and rosemary’s baby (and other polanski’s films) with the sheer paranoia and anxiety he’s able to create. Powerful stuff. McGregor googling CIA contacts scene reminds me of Mia Farrow reading the book