{"id":1689,"date":"2011-12-28T19:51:05","date_gmt":"2011-12-28T19:51:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=1689"},"modified":"2011-12-28T19:53:51","modified_gmt":"2011-12-28T19:53:51","slug":"the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/action\/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo\/","title":{"rendered":"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>So striking and unique was Swedish actress Noomi Rapace<\/a>\u2019s portrayal of 21st century anti-heroine Lisbeth Salander in the original 2009 film that director David Fincher<\/a> and screenwriter Steven Zaillian<\/a> already had their work cut out adapting author Stieg Larsson<\/a>\u2019s complex first book of his Millennium<\/em> trilogy as an English-language film. The plot is so complex with its plethora of characters and emotions and deals with so many issues, including Nazism, serial murder, rape, torture and twisted family liaisons that it acts as both a cinematic dream and a hindrance if done incorrectly. Therefore, it\u2019s a relief that Fincher and Zaillian not only appreciated that the central theme to refer everything to is the Salander journey and the breaking down of her defiant resolve, but also that the film could not be set anywhere else but in Sweden again, purely for the inherent cultural quality and mystique that the story desperately requires.<\/p>\n

Disgraced magazine journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig<\/a> taking on the Michael Nyqvist<\/a> part) is hired by wealthy industrialist Vanger (Christopher Plummer<\/a>) to discover what happened to his missing grandniece \u2013 presumed dead after forty years. Blomkvist learns that he has been investigated by a brilliant computer hacker \u2013 also hired by Vanger, the anti-social punk Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara<\/a>) who joins forces with Blomkvist on the search. The pair forms an unusual bond and uncovers dark and ugly family secrets and corporate corruption.<\/p>\n

Fincher\u2019s pedigree in gritty film noir thrillers (Zodiac<\/a><\/em>, Se7en<\/a><\/em>, Panic Room<\/a><\/em> etc) is not necessarily apparent at first from the opening title sequence, an nod to Bond (and his 007 star, Craig, perhaps), but an eye-catching, fetish-like monochrome affair of writhing bodies trapped in oily gook, accompanied by the nerve-shredding and pumping cover of Led Zeppelin\u2019s Immigrant Song by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The opener means business and suggests the story to be Salander\u2019s and her fight against tyranny.<\/p>\n

What accompanies this chic and mesmerising title sequence is a near-identical palette and chilling tone, as to the original film, without any Hollywood gloss, particularly as people will not necessarily come to this version afresh. As in Fincher\u2019s Se7en<\/em> and Fight Club<\/em>, Jeff Cronenweth<\/a>\u2019s fluid interior cinematography sets the mood with its low-key lighting and shadowy depth, accentuating the whole Gothic flair and unease of the story\u2019s environment, while bringing a heightened iciness and desolation to certain scenes with daylight blue temperature. Fincher certainly manages to still stamp his mark on the subject matter while retaining the alien and hostile environment of the original.<\/p>\n

But where the film\u2019s slick look matches and even surpasses expectations, Zaillian \u2013 who claimed he\u2019d never seen the original \u2013 still had to decipher Larsson\u2019s lengthy written word, and naturally because of the involved nature of the book and necessary elements to relay, the result for Fincher fans is a less succinct style of film than should be expected.<\/p>\n

That said the lead performance does not disappoint and is surprising; if you wondered whether Mara is a fitting English-speaking substitute, she is. Her physical transformation, complete with dyed blonde eyebrows and chopped hair is spectacular. Her mental state as Salander is equally focused and wildly effective. Mara\u2019s recent Oscar buzz is more than justified, as she ploughs through the injustice and transcends the story\u2019s knottier moments like a biking avenging angel. Somewhat out of context with the darker, lurid secrets that the whole story represents, Mara confronts Salander\u2019s notorious rape scene and subsequent revenge with full and startling aplomb, giving Salander more of a \u2018damaged\u2019 soul and worthy cause than Rapace\u2019s emo-styled thug.<\/p>\n

Embracing that gritty determination he and his screen characters are renowned for, Craig\u2019s Blomkvist is equally compelling and dogged in his quest, perhaps almost too methodical in fact \u2013 like a Bond figure: Nyqvist\u2019s 2009 portrayal of the embattled hack is more debilitated and at times, something of a closed emotional book, shown in the Swedish actor\u2019s pitted, rugged and haunted features. In turn, the sexual attraction between Salander and Blomkvist feels less of an enigma in this film, and more overly simplified, as merely two social \u2018outcasts\u2019 finding solace from their work. Still, the nature of the story is such that the narrative naturally gives way to Salander\u2019s domination, and Craig is generous in giving the Mara performance as much breathing power as possible.<\/p>\n

As a standalone, dark and twisted thriller, the Fincher-Zaillian partnership does not fail to capture the viewer\u2019s attention, and the story\u2019s unsavoury familiar mystery is heightened by the strong performances of its dynamic leads \u2013 Mara, unquestionably. Like recent English adaptations of Scandinavian tales, such as Matt Reeves<\/a>\u2019s of Tomas Alfredson<\/a>\u2019s 2008 Let The Right One In<\/em><\/a>, Let Me In<\/a><\/em> (2010), fans can expect the translation to clarify elements of the characters\u2019 psyches, even if the action needs no further explanation. For Fincher purists, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo<\/em><\/a> is lumpier in plot fluidity than his other, sleeker work, but his call sign is still very much present and he uses the Swedish environment to interpret foreboding events to full effect.<\/p>\n

3\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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