Ghost is one of those movies which guys don’t readily admit they watch. It’s like Steel Magnolias on that sense. In any case I watched it on ABC’s Family channel. ABC’s Family Channel is the same channel which used to be Pat Robertson’s station which played the 700 Club which usually talked about how bad and raunchy television had become. Now we see Ghost with the clay phallic symbol and a sex scene between the two main characters. But I digress.
Whoopie Goldberg as Olda Mae Brown really made the movie watchable. Anything else would have just a silly love story with a theme song from the 50s. Whoopie won an Oscar for her role. How the mighty have fallen…to the center square on Hollywood Squares, usually reserved for washed out C list celebrities. Alf anyone?
Demi Moore as Molly did nothing for me. Mostly she just sat around and cried alot. No character development whatsoever.
What is interesting is Ghost’s portrayal of the afterlife. We see the murder (Willy) and the thief and co-conspirator (Carl) dragged off to the netherworld by the shadows. Something we’d totally expect. Yet Sam, who lived with his girlfriend (a sexual relationship outside of marriage) is shown going to an area of light. No mention of Sam’s religious belief. We only know that he loved Molly and would do anything for her.
Hollywood’s portrayal of the afterlife might not always be scriptually accurate, but who am I to judge? Sam might have been a saint. Sam’s heavenly departure was predictable, and yet satisfying for the movie’s conclusion.