Now Watching: A Ghost Story

I think the best way to sum up how I feel about A Ghost Story is that I like what it’s doing, more than how it does it. It’s a film dealing with all the big issues – life, death and love. But above all, it’s about time.

Casey Affleck plays a nameless man who dies but returns as a ghost wearing a white sheet. It’s both comical and quaint, but neatly plays into the feeling of disconnection between him and the world of the living. As the film progresses he does learn to interact with this world to a limited degree, but he’s largely a passive observer. Time passes, but he remains constant.

Dialogue is almost non-existent, as the film relies upon its visuals and sound to tell its story . . . at least until a completely unnecessary scene in which a living character practically turns to the audience and explains the plot in a meandering, pretentious monologue.

The scene could have been cut, and I think you’d have a stronger film without it. In fact, there’s a lot of scenes that could be trimmed, particularly during the first act. The concept is sound, but this feels like 60 minutes of solid content stretched to 90. Stretched so thin it almost breaks.

Almost. Fortunately, A Ghost Story pulls it back together and delivers a satisfying pay off at the very end – even if it’s one you’ll see coming long before we get there. I do understand why so many of the early scenes are presented as they are, as it ties into our perception of the passage of time – but it’s still 10 minutes of watching someone eating a pie that I’ll never get back. Cut that scene in half, and the impact would be the same.

Overall, I felt a little disappointed by A Ghost Story. The presentation is great. The direction, sound and concept are all things I can appreciate – but I think the execution is flawed. It’s a difficult film to recommend, but if you’re in the mood for a more slow paced, thoughtful film exploring themes like the nature of death and time, then be sure to check it out.

5/10