The Ghost Writer, Roman Polanski, 2010

An apolitical British ghostwriter (Ewan McGregor) is hired to write a former British Prime Minister's autobiography. The former Prime Minster (Pierce Brosnan) is in the United States. It turns out he's under investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. He's advised not to go to any country that recognizes the jurisdiction of the ICC. The only countries that don't recognize it are the United States, Iraq, Indonesia, North Korea and, of course, Israel.

The man can't step foot outside the country without being arrested. Remind you of anybody?

Like a lot of Polanski movies, this one is set in the United States and Britain, two countries he can't visit. I don't know if they have a large supply of American cars, double decker buses and English taxis in France or that was all second unit work. IMDb shows they had units in the U.S. and Britain.

Seems like this might be a good idea for other directors dreaming of careers in Hollywood. You can stay in your own country, have a simulated Hollywood career and probably save a fortune.

For that matter, there are regional filmmakers in the United States who wish they could be in New York or Hollywood. There's no place in their small town that couldn't pass for the big city if the shot was framed just right?

Skidmore, Missouri, pop. 284, but it could be anywhere, really.

A political thriller. The previous ghost writer died mysteriously and now they're after Ewan McGregor, too.

I was surprised to see the late Eli Wallach looking healthy at age 95. With Jim Belushi in a small role.