The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Plummer, Joely Richardson
Director: David Fincher
Rating: 4.5/5
Now I have to admit I have been a huge fan of American remakes of foreign movies, especially when those foreign movies are as top class as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was last year.
However when I saw the name of David Fincher attached to such a project it sparked my interest as I, along with may others, have been a huge fan of his work for many years.
And let me tell you this… his adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s hit novel is not a disappointment and is a movie that you really shouldn’t miss.
The major thing that always bugs me when an American version of something is made is the story is automatically moved to the States, usually New York, but, excellent news, there is no such move in this movie as it, like the book, is set in Sweden.
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker.
Ok let’s get the bad out of the way first because there really isn’t too much of it - all I would say that it is a tad long at 2hrs and 37 minutes - but apart from that it is spot on.
David Fincher has made a darker and meaner version that the one that graced the screen only last year that is engrossing from the opening frame.
This is a great adaptation of the novel which, I think, will leave lovers of the book happy as Fincher has created this real air of menace and danger which just hangs over the entire movie.
The central casting is just excellent Daniel Craig depicts Mikael Blomkvist as this run of the mill everyman who get pulled into a series of events that are more dangerous than he ever imagined.
Craig has not made Blomkvist into any type of action hero and it’s great to see the actor tackle a very different sort of role.
But this movie belongs to Rooney Mara as she is just superb as Lisbeth Salander as she mixes strong and vulnerable, tough and sensitive, sane and crazy all beautifully together to deliver this very damaged and yet highly likeable character of Salander.
Mara has great chemistry with Craig work beautifully well together - there is a real genuine feel to their relationship as it develops throughout the film.
There is also a great support cast that includes a creepy turn from Stellan Skarsgard as well as an emotional performance from Christopher Plummer as Henrik, who is trying to discover who murdered his niece.
Visually the movie is just stunning as Fincher uses the harsh landscape to add a real coldness and sense of danger to the movie - is just works wonderfully in creating a rather uncomfortable and cut off sort of atmosphere.
But what is so great about The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is Fincher has not tried to make a it a movie for everyone - this is very much an adult story with adult themes and none of these have been watered down to appeal to censors.
The rape and revenge scenes are brutal but Fincher has treated his audience with respect - and that doesn’t happen too often in movies at the moment.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a cinematic triumph - and the opening credits are fantastic and the best this I have seen all year.
This was one of the most anticipated movies of 2011 and it really has not disappointed - this is one that you really need to check out as it really is top draw!!
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in David Fincher The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo