Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 12/21/2011 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated R for brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language Running Time 158 Minutes Genre Suspense, Crime Director David Fincher Writer Steve Zaillian Cast Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard, Robin Wright, Max von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, Joely Richardson, Steven Berkoff, David Dencik, Goran Visnjic Studio Columbia Pictures |
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011)
SYNOPSIS
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first film in
Columbia Pictures' three-picture adaptation of Stieg
Larsson's literary blockbuster The Millennium Trilogy.
Directed by David Fincher and starring Daniel Craig and
Rooney Mara, the film is based on the first novel in the
trilogy, which altogether have sold 50 million copies in
46 countries and become a worldwide phenomenon. --
(C) Sony
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first film in
Columbia Pictures' three-picture adaptation of Stieg
Larsson's literary blockbuster The Millennium Trilogy.
Directed by David Fincher and starring Daniel Craig and
Rooney Mara, the film is based on the first novel in the
trilogy, which altogether have sold 50 million copies in
46 countries and become a worldwide phenomenon. --
(C) Sony
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
Fans of the best-selling Stieg Larsson trilogy; The Girl with Dragon Tattoo will not be disappointed
with the American made English Speaking version directed by the gifted director David Fincher
(Fight Club, The Social Network). Fincher uses his brilliant craftsmanship to tell the suspenseful
yet graphic story of a young woman Lisbeth Salander (intensely played by Rooney Mara with an
Oscar worthy performance) who is a Ward of the courts based on a previous encounter with her
father that will be better explained in the sequel that is sure to follow, The Girl who Played with Fire
and a journalist, Mikael Blomkivist (played by Daniel Craig who also conducts a noteworthy
performance), that is dealing with a libel suit from Hans Wennerstrom, a successful businessman
in the area. The two become connected after Salander completes a thorough (yet illegal)
background search on Blomkivist for Henrik Vanger (played by Christopher Plummer), an aging
industrialist, using her technologically savvy hacking skills. Due to the pressing libel suit
Blomkvist knows he needs to put some distance between himself and the magazine, Millennium,
he co-founded with long-time (married) lover Erika Berger (played by Robin Wright). Vanger
proposes a lucrative “side job” t0 do just that; he wants Blomkvist to help solve the 40-year-old
murder/disappearance case of his beloved niece, Harriet Vanger. As Blomkvist begins digging
around in the Vanger family history, he realizes this family is full of anti-Semitism, alcoholism, and
abuse. He also realizes he needs a research assistant and who better to ask then the person who
knew more about him then his closest friends, Salander. The two together make an excellent
team and the age difference isn’t that unsettling due to the exceptional performances by both
Craig and Mara. For those that have read the books or seen the Swedish films the rape scene and
sensitive forensic pictures will hold no shock value; however, Fincher’s portrayal of these events
versus his Swedish predecessor (Niels Arden Oplev) is much more true to the book. The rape
scene, while it may be hard for some to watch, is an important key to what follows in the sequels,
and unlike Oplev, Fincher does not splatter the gory forensic photos across the screen again and
again. He simply flashes through them while still maintaining their importance. Noomi Rapace
(who played Salander in the three Swedish films) definitely did the character justice and made the
Swedish films a success; however, Mara’s take was less aggressive and more thought-
provoking. She skillfully uses almost no expression during the entire film which, to me, is more
fitting of the brilliant yet possibly autistic woman that cannot get away from her horrific past. The
music direction by Mr. NIN himself, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross cannot go unmentioned. The
dark tones so commonly found in Reznor’s music is a great match with this dark thriller and the
opening credits is a sight all itself and the perfect opening for this slow yet sinister remake of what
already was a fantastic piece of cinema. I must, however, question the few changes that were
made in the script in regards to the book considering the script followed the book almost
perfectly. The changes may have been a way to cut out some time considering the movie was
already running at 2 hours and 40 minutes; yet 10 more minutes to end the tale the way it was
ended it the book is just seconds in comparison and while I would love to elaborate on what I mean
I cannot say more without ruining the suspense for those few who are not familiar with either the
book or the Swedish film. This American made version may not have strayed far from its Swedish
predecessor; however, the direction from Fincher and the acting from the entire cast will surely
lead to the next two books in this intense trilogy also being converted into American made films
and will not leave its already rather large fan base disappointed
with the American made English Speaking version directed by the gifted director David Fincher
(Fight Club, The Social Network). Fincher uses his brilliant craftsmanship to tell the suspenseful
yet graphic story of a young woman Lisbeth Salander (intensely played by Rooney Mara with an
Oscar worthy performance) who is a Ward of the courts based on a previous encounter with her
father that will be better explained in the sequel that is sure to follow, The Girl who Played with Fire
and a journalist, Mikael Blomkivist (played by Daniel Craig who also conducts a noteworthy
performance), that is dealing with a libel suit from Hans Wennerstrom, a successful businessman
in the area. The two become connected after Salander completes a thorough (yet illegal)
background search on Blomkivist for Henrik Vanger (played by Christopher Plummer), an aging
industrialist, using her technologically savvy hacking skills. Due to the pressing libel suit
Blomkvist knows he needs to put some distance between himself and the magazine, Millennium,
he co-founded with long-time (married) lover Erika Berger (played by Robin Wright). Vanger
proposes a lucrative “side job” t0 do just that; he wants Blomkvist to help solve the 40-year-old
murder/disappearance case of his beloved niece, Harriet Vanger. As Blomkvist begins digging
around in the Vanger family history, he realizes this family is full of anti-Semitism, alcoholism, and
abuse. He also realizes he needs a research assistant and who better to ask then the person who
knew more about him then his closest friends, Salander. The two together make an excellent
team and the age difference isn’t that unsettling due to the exceptional performances by both
Craig and Mara. For those that have read the books or seen the Swedish films the rape scene and
sensitive forensic pictures will hold no shock value; however, Fincher’s portrayal of these events
versus his Swedish predecessor (Niels Arden Oplev) is much more true to the book. The rape
scene, while it may be hard for some to watch, is an important key to what follows in the sequels,
and unlike Oplev, Fincher does not splatter the gory forensic photos across the screen again and
again. He simply flashes through them while still maintaining their importance. Noomi Rapace
(who played Salander in the three Swedish films) definitely did the character justice and made the
Swedish films a success; however, Mara’s take was less aggressive and more thought-
provoking. She skillfully uses almost no expression during the entire film which, to me, is more
fitting of the brilliant yet possibly autistic woman that cannot get away from her horrific past. The
music direction by Mr. NIN himself, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross cannot go unmentioned. The
dark tones so commonly found in Reznor’s music is a great match with this dark thriller and the
opening credits is a sight all itself and the perfect opening for this slow yet sinister remake of what
already was a fantastic piece of cinema. I must, however, question the few changes that were
made in the script in regards to the book considering the script followed the book almost
perfectly. The changes may have been a way to cut out some time considering the movie was
already running at 2 hours and 40 minutes; yet 10 more minutes to end the tale the way it was
ended it the book is just seconds in comparison and while I would love to elaborate on what I mean
I cannot say more without ruining the suspense for those few who are not familiar with either the
book or the Swedish film. This American made version may not have strayed far from its Swedish
predecessor; however, the direction from Fincher and the acting from the entire cast will surely
lead to the next two books in this intense trilogy also being converted into American made films
and will not leave its already rather large fan base disappointed
By Brenda S. Ladd
