If you have read nothing about Ghost before you decide to watch it, only owing to hearsay, the opening of the film can be very confusing to you. Not in the sense that is includes many elements, or casts a shadow on everything it initiates, but any sequence that promises of a crime thriller, hardly ever expectedly serve fantasy instead. With several problematic narratives that will remind you of many films from the 90s in terms of casual racism in terms of writing characters, Ghost still is one of the most celebrated films of all time, with nothing other than mediocrity on your side once you’re over with it (or at least this happened with me).
Ghost is the story of Sam Wheat and Molly and Jensen, a couple living in the suburbs New York, madly in love wanting to start a new life. This is when Sam in an attempt to get mugged on the street, gets killed and his ghost come to life instead, refusing the gateway to heaven. The ghost trembles at understanding how is this going to work, and this is when he finds his purpose of staying back. He realizes that Molly’s life is in danger.
The film has a good 20 min sequence of Sam meeting Oda Mae Brown, a woman who talks to the dead, or at least fools people into believing her. This black woman is shown being racist to her Puerto Rican customer, and all this is passed on as comedy. However badly Sam’s friend wrongs him, he only did it by mistake when he only wanted him to get mugged, and however the races try to help out, they’re only shown to be timid or the real takers of Sam’s life. This wouldn’t have been problematic if the representation was even. This is a classic example of filmmakers increasing racial representation but not bettering it.
I seldom found people frowning over the obvious nature of racism or even sexism online when I looked up Ghost. But why would they? This is film still the most iconic and ‘tearjerking’ romance movie. When it comes down to this, yes Ghost has one or two beautiful segments between Molly and Sam, and some thrilling ones too as Sam’s ghost attempts to unveil his murderer’s face. If you wish to spend the weekend watching a free flowing film, Ghost should be your choice. But let political correctness and cinematic excellence take a backseat that.
A beautiful Whoopi Goldberg is a treat to the eyes here. Although Demi Moore is technically the lead actor here, but hardly ever leaves a mark with her performance.
The F Word 