The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

• Year: 2011
• Released: 21 Dec 2011
• Country: United States, Sweden, Norway
• Adwords: Won 1 Oscar. 27 wins & 91 nominations total
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568346/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English, Swedish
• MPA Rating: R
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Runtime: 158 min
• Writer: Steven Zaillian, Stieg Larsson
• Director: David Fincher
• Cast: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer
• Keywords: based on novel or book, serial killer, remake, rape, investigation,

	7.8/10
	71/100
	86% – Critics
	86% – Audience

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Storyline

Stockholm-based Mikael Blomkvist, co-owner and co-editor of Millennium magazine, has just lost a high profile libel case resulting from an article he wrote on businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström. This loss has the potential to ruin Mikael professionally. As such, he leaves the magazine in the hands of the other co-owner/co-editor, Erika Berger, with who he is openly having an affair, which ruined his marriage. Even in Erika’s hands, the magazine is also suffering because of the scandal and resulting loss of ad revenue. Because of Mikael’s investigative abilities as a journalist, he receives an offer by wealthy and aged Henrik Vanger: solve the forty year old cold case of his missing and presumed dead grandniece, Harriet Vanger, who was only sixteen at the time of her disappearance. Despite Henrik’s generous financial compensation, which could also save the magazine, Mikael is unconvinced to do the work until Henrik adds one additional piece of compensation that money can’t buy. Mikael will largely do the work on Hedeby Island just off of Hedestad in northern Sweden, the island where Harriet was last seen, and where most of the dysfunctional extended Vanger family still lives, they who are among the suspects. To the family, Mikael is solely writing a chronicle of the Vanger family, without them knowing that his primary task is to find Harriet’s killer. As Mikael proceeds with his investigation, he asks for a research assistant. Who Henrik’s lawyer recommends is a young woman named Lisbeth Salanger, who conducted the background check on Mikael which Henrik ordered in preparation to hire him for this job. Mikael agrees with the choice when he sees that check she did of him, he knowing that she could only have found out key pieces of information through one means, which could help in this matter. Lisbeth is a brilliant investigator, but troubled in her personal life, which includes being under state guardianship due to incidents that happened while she was growing up. Despite what he knows of Lisbeth through her research of him, and despite her alternative appearance, Mikael begins to trust her, and she him – the first person she trusts in establishment in a long time – as they tie Harriet’s disappearance to a series of what look to be murders of young women leading up to the disappearance. Through the case, Lisbeth begins to see a different life for herself, while Mikael has the larger goal of regaining his good name by knowing that Wennerström is much what he wrote.

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Movie Reviews

A second adaptation of the book that is almost as good as the first

Not quite in the top 5 of David Fincher’s best films (‘Se7en’, ‘The Social Network’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘Zodiac’) but it does come close. And this is somebody who found a lot to like about all his films, including his lesser ones like ‘Alien 3’ and ‘Panic Room’.

Despite being often considered a remake, personally prefer to call it a second adaptation of the book. The book is a fantastic read, and as an adaptation while it is condensed and has some changes Fincher’s film still adheres to the basic tone of the book as does the Swedish version. Of the two versions, the Swedish version just gets the edge for its incredible atmosphere complete with bleakness, chills, shocks and is more authentic, with Noomi Rapace burning the screen enigmatically with her presence.

Where Fincher’s film improves over the previous version are in four areas. One is the production values, which are far more audacious here. The cinematography, both bleakly moody and exquisite to look at, is more cinematic and perfectly captures the frozen landscape which is like a character in itself. The film is very tightly edited too in a way that is distinctively Fincher. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ music score is another winner of theirs, it is haunting and gives a really unnerving vibe, combined with some clever sound mixing. The script, even when condensed, is more polished and tighter and also has more flow. While Lisbeth is a fascinating and complex character in the Swedish film, the Lisbeth in Fincher’s film has even more complexity and more variation of emotions.

Fincher’s direction is exemplary, showing a mastery of visual style and mood setting, ensuring that the film stays intriguing throughout the length. In lesser hands and with less assured pacing, with the long running time ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ could have been a long haul but had plenty of intrigue. Much of the storytelling is gripping, and while not as authentic or quite as masterful in atmosphere like the Swedish counterpart was it has its fair share of chills, twists and turns (without being convoluted or illogical) and shock value as well as a murky bleakness. Contrary to what some believe, this second adaptation did have point (was fearing it wouldn’t), as it made the story more accessible and gave it more exposure.

Good acting helps. Daniel Craig is very wisely restrained, the character should have a quiet determination and dignity which Craig handles very well. Christopher Plummer is simply terrific as well, one of his best performances in recent years, while Stellan Skasgard is frighteningly demented and Yorick van Wageningen is unsettlingly sadistic. Robin Wright does her best with a shallow character. Best of all is a magnificent Rooney Mara, such a multi-layered performance and sees Mara not just playing the role but disappearing into it. See her appearance for example, so committed that when you see her in other films you would not believe that it’s the same person.

There are faults however. Did not think much of the Gothic James Bond-like opening sequence that just felt jarring and out of place. Nor with the accents, which were a mix for some of the actors of having one too heavy or thick (Wright) or not attempting one at all (Craig). The decision to use both English and Swedish in some scenes did have a tendency to confuse, while the central relationship (mostly successfully done) did feel underdeveloped and, even for characters that are the heart of the story, takes over the story a little too much somewhat.

All in all, almost as good as the Swedish version and better than both of that film’s heavily flawed but still worthy sequels. 8/10 Bethany Cox

A good thriller, with one caveat

David Fincher’s adaptation of the intensely popular Scandinavian crime novel is quite exemplary in many respects. The sprawling story of the novel is condensed and brought to life on the screen by a very skilled scriptwriter; the cast of seasoned performers bring the various characters from the page to life very well; and Fincher’s direction is as ever very, very good, which makes this a stylish and easy watch.

However, there’s one huge caveat to go with this review: a prior adaptation of the novel already exists, namely the 2009 Swedish version featuring Noomi Rapace. The problem with this Hollywood version is that it’s not as good as the Swedish one, even though it has a bigger budget. The Swedish version already did everything perfectly and can’t, honestly, be improved upon; take Rooney Mara, who tries very hard as Salander, but who can’t match Rapace’s embodiment of the role. And Daniel Craig is Daniel Craig; he’s no Michael Nykqvist. So as good as this version of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is, it was already done in a more authentic way, so there’s little reason to watch.

David Fincher Recreates

David Fincher is able to recreate the first of the Swedish hit trilogy based on the novels. The style is similar with the Swedish original. It’s got the cold blue tone, and the same desolate morality. It hasn’t been transplanted to anywhere else. In fact, it’s basically kept the whole thing intact with the exception of the actors. Daniel Craig is a Hollywood choice to be the journalist. Of course, he’s 007. Sure he’s hot. So when Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) sleeps with him, it is less about his personality and a little more about his James Bond body. But it’s to be expected for a Hollywood remake. Rooney Mara is just not as intense as Noomi Rapace. Rooney is a skinny girly actress with some good acting skills. She has just enough to play the anger. But Noomi has more. The original Lisbeth was a true discovery.

I hate to compare the two, but they are so close that they’re begging to be compared. Overall I liked the Swedish one slightly more but just very slightly. Some of that probably is due to the fact that I saw that one first. David Fincher does a great job of recreating the original.