REVIEW: Ghost (Released in 1990) [30th Anniversary]

DIRECTOR: Jerry Zucker

PRODUCER: Lisa Weinstein

WRITER: Bruce Joel Rubin

PERFORMERS: Patrick Swayze Demi Moore Whoopi Goldberg Tony Goldwyn Rick Aviles

How much would you give for one final moment with the one you love? How far would you go to protect that person? Most importantly, what would you do differently before it's your time to go? In this film, a lot of those questions are explored through the journey and experiences of a man who's love for his girlfriend do these things. For it's 30th anniversary, this is the review of one of the most romantic yet tragic tales ever filmed, not to mention a surprise hit for those who participated in front and behind the camera. And can you believe this was inspired by a quote from a Shakespeare play? Well I can. This film changed the way romantic films are viewed and set the pace for sleeper hit in it's category.

There were films like A Guy Named Joe and It's a Wonderful Life and then several decades later... along came this film. Ghost is not your average film about the afterlife, in fact it's not the type of film that touches on life in the afterlife, but on what you would do if you were a ghost among the living. If you were in a world where no one could see or hear you and you were stuck between two worlds. Much like It's A Wonderful Life where you had the main character giving his time and energy to the service of others only to discover life after him when he wishes he weren't alive or A Guy Named Joe which was about letting go and moving on, this one had a different take. Ghost tells the tale of how deep a love goes and the realization of that concept before it's too late. Let's be honest here, when we lose the people we love, it greatly affects us with so much sadness that it takes us nearly forever to heal from it. When the character of Sam Wheat played by Patrick Swayze is killed in a mugging attempt you don't realize he's dead until you see him in his ghost form looking at his already dying corpse while lying in the arms of Molly Jensen played by Demi Moore. It's so heart-wrenching to look at, even today... because to have someone you love so much murdered like that in front of you is just beyond belief. Just as we never forget our first love, we never forget watching someone close to us die in our arms.

" ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - REVELATION 21:4 NIV

It's so hard to watch this film knowing that Patrick Swayze, the main star of this film, is dead. Even now just thinking about it makes all the more difficult. Whether you knew him personally or not, in every film of his including this one you ever watched, you felt close to him or in some way routing for him whether he was playing a greaser or a truck driver or a dance instructor, heck maybe even an adrenaline junkie who robbed banks, he always seemed to have that effect on you that just wouldn't go away. His performance in this film is proof of that and here, playing a dead man among the living can actually take you back to a time when you felt the presence of a recently departed loved one. I had moments like that myself, when my uncle, the husband of my mother's older sister (my aunt), passed away in 2007 I was deeply affected by his loss because he was the like a second father to me. I spent time with him, he taught me about the birds and the bees and on top of that, always had a fun loving personality that I just loved about him. Just like Molly in the film, when he died... I felt like my world came crashing down and there was nothing I could do about it. I cried on the day of his funeral when I spoke about what he meant to me and what losing him felt like. Even though it's been years since his death I sometimes feel he and other family members who have since died and gone to heaven are watching over me and the rest of us all the time. Who knows, maybe even standing over me or right beside me in their ghost form the way Swayze does in the film. That alone proves that even though you can't see them or hear them, there still there for you in spirit and they're not going anywhere.

Back to the film, the one performance that stood out to me the most was Whoopi Goldberg as psychic who assists Sam in his quest to save Molly and avenge his death. As Oda Mae Brown, Goldberg here really captures the spirit of a woman who had some believing of her own to do. From not believing in her own abilities to becoming a true believer, it's quite simple to see her make that transition. We never gain enough faith in our own capabilities until we witness them first hand, that's the kind of thing I personally get out of Goldberg's contribution to this film. You even get a little comedy in this film as deep as it is and she knows when to be serious and when to be funny. I have always had mad respect for Goldberg and regardless of her past or whatever, I only see one of the most respected and genuinely talented women of color in Hollywood. As for Swayze, what motivated his acting in this film was the death of his father which greatly affected him and when tasked to do this, motivated him to do what his father would have done if he were here. That was just great acting right there, you thought to yourself 'Patrick, if your father was here, he would be very proud' and I believe he was indeed. Moore for her part brings, what I call a much important element to the table balancing the effects of the loss of a loved one and the steps she takes to overcome it. When Goldberg's Oda Mae desperately tries to plead with her character Molly to let her in, Molly breaks down to the point of tears in frustration and anger and I remember being so enticed in that moment that my heart breaks for her. But then Sam uses a penny to convince her of the truth by sliding it up the door, then giving it to her and suddenly the pain goes away and your tears transition from disbelief to joy. How's that for luck?

The music in this movie is also memorable as composer Maurice Jarre gives one of the most compelling scores I've ever heard. Whenever I think of this film, I hear the main theme playing in my head and it almost brings me to tears because of it's melancholy tune and it immediately makes me think of my uncle and the other family members of mine that passed over the years. Who can forget that melodic tune at the end when Sam is called to heaven? What a tear jerking moment right there! Plus the song "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers was the very thing that made this film such a classic, if you were born after the 1960's when this song was first recorded, whenever you heard this song you thought of this film right away! The effects were also great looking for it's time considering the way they were put in the film and their integration with it... especially with the last scene of the film. They were there only when needed, sometimes least expected but very much well done and highly regarded since this was back when nothing was cheesy though some thought otherwise. Maybe some effects scenes were over the top but they managed to work overall, even the ones where you had the dark spirits when the villains die were pretty eerie to witness, but the heavenly ascension was the cherry on top in that department.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - ROMANS 15:13 NIV

Ghost wasn't expected to succeed nor become what it became but that was the beauty of making it. A wonderful idea put to paper, then put to screen, seen by millions of people, adored by them and change the face of the romantic genre for generations. My father made me watch this film when I was younger and man, am I so glad that he did. Not only did I enjoy it, I adored it. Overtime the film became the highest grossing film of the year in 1990. It even won 2 Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and more specifically... Goldberg her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress!!! I think back to that an I think who knew? 30 years later, looking back on this film I think it did more than just break our hearts, it put the pieces back together very effectively. When Sam descends into the heavenly realms you're happy and sad at once that he's going away forever, but you know that one day you'll see him again. It's the same thing with the people we love we lost, they're in a better place now but their still with you and they always will be. The ending can be so hard to look at sometimes because Swayze's no longer here and it's almost like watching him leave for good. His death from nearly 11 years ago still impacts many people, sometimes even me. But no one knew the statistics of what would happen 19 years after this film came out. This film does teach us one thing: don't wait until it's too late to tell your loved ones you love them. Highly recommended for movie lovers and a box of tissues is needed for all viewers who are sensitive to loss. Happy 30th Anniversary to Ghost and keep those spirits of love and protection coming in for all time!!!