Release Date: 12/21/2011
Based on the novel by Stieg Larson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, directed by David Fincher (The Social Network) and written by Academy Award winner Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List), is a dark, dramatic thriller set in Sweden. Being a fan of the Swedish film of the same name that was released in 2010, I was again skeptical of Fincher, one of the most talented filmmakers in the industry, for choosing what felt like a recycled project as his next directorial effort. The result is a masterful American remake and an accomplishment for everyone involved. If you’re worried that the story will feel repetitive then never fear, Fincher has infused the film with his signature visceral style. He takes the source material and makes it his own, by creating a more twisted and engaging tale than the foreign film. It is an expertly crafted motion picture that is filled with moments of shocking imagery and doesn’t disappoint when it comes to keeping the audience in suspense. Even if you have read the book or seen the Swedish version, there’s no denying that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is one of the best films of 2011.
Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomqvist (Daniel Craig) is brought to an island in the north of Sweden to meet with retired millionaire Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer). Henrik would like Mikael to look into a 40-year old murder that has haunted him for half his life. In 1966, Henrik’s 16-year old grandniece, Harriet, disappeared and was assumed murdered. Her killer has gone undiscovered and unpunished but Henrik believes the circle of suspects to be small: his family. He still receives the same gift Harriet use to get him every year on his birthday. Many of the family members, some who are Nazi’s, no longer speak to one other, which makes it difficult for Mikael to do his research. Mikael then decides to recruit the help of a computer hacker, the same girl who did the background check on him. He brings on Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) to be his assistant. Lisbeth, an expert researcher with a photographic memory, proves vital as Mikael’s uncovering and interpretation of clues leads him deep into the mystery of several murders, as they both realize that a serial killer could be among them on the island.
From the psychedelic opening credits bumping to the awesome cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song, to the bleakness of the Swedish setting, Fincher instills a certain flair to his films that only a handful of directors possess. It enables you to connect with the brutal imagery and multifaceted characters on the screen in a way that transports you to this wonderful cinematic world. The cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth is especially noteworthy. He did an amazing job capturing Fincher’s vision in the photography. One shot in particular of Lisbeth riding her motorcycle was astounding. Fincher is the king of making sure his stories flow. I swear the guy could make a 4-hour movie seem short. It’s one of the best qualities to have as a filmmaker, being able to pace your films so well that they just fly by. Dragon Tattoo is no different. Much like The Social Network in the opening scene, this will grab a hold of you within the first 15 minutes and won’t let you go until the credits roll.
The more I think of it the more I realize this project can be compared to Martin Scorsese‘s vision of Infernal Affairs, a foreign film whose story seemed to be too good to be true for the master of the gangster genre. Well Dragon Tattoo is Fincher’s The Departed, a perfect story for the perfect filmmaker that he embraces and eventually knocks out of the park. Credit has to be given to Steven Zaillian as well who penned a sharp, complex script that isn’t too similar to the Swedish version. He makes you feel for every character, especially the relationship between the two leads.
Daniel Craig, who was perfectly cast as Mikael, is impressive. He has a few scenes with a cat that are really funny and some good comic relief in a very dark picture. He plays an exceptionally likeable character and a perfect lead for the audience to truly care about. Christopher Plummer‘s screen time is limited but he steals a number of scenes in the beginning and end of the movie. This, plus a critically acclaimed performance in Beginners, is sure to land him a nomination at this year’s Oscars. It’s Rooney Mara though who is the star of this show. She is flat out mesmerizing, baring it all on screen, literally. Noomi Rapace’s Lisbeth Salandar was a breakout performance for her career, but Rooney Mara’s Lisbeth is probably the most badass female character of all-time. She added her own unique twist to the punk rock hacker and it worked perfectly. It’s an award worthy turn and absolutely the best female performance I have seen this year.
The dark tone of the film would not be fully realized without a major factor, the score. The ominous tones and electronic beats by Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are simply brilliant. I hope that Fincher continues to use these guys to score his films, it’s a dream team whose combination of what you hear and see on screen sends shivers up your spine.
The only thing, and it’s minor, that I didn’t really like, is at the end of the film it feels like they are searching for an ending. It’s different than the foreign film and I was intrigued at how this one was going to conclude. In the end, I didn’t hate the final scene I actually really enjoyed it. I just felt that it was incomplete, which makes sense, as this is the first film of a trilogy. I just wish it ended as a complete film on it’s own without being more of a stride to the next installment, but that might be a flaw in the source material and not in the hands of Fincher or Zaillian.
In conclusion, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a remarkable movie. A dark, twisted saga of murder, mystery and revenge that is delivered to us viewers by one of the greatest filmmakers of the 21st century.
The feel bad movie of Christmas is pretty good. That’s for damn sure. It’s MADE!
IMDB: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Movie Wiseguys: 9.5/10
