MOVIE OF THE WEEK (12/21/11): THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, Steven Berkoff, Robin Wright, Yorick van Wageningen and Joely Richardson
WRITER(S): Steven Zaillian (screenplay); Stieg Larsson, originally published by Norstedts (novel)
DIRECTOR: David Fincher
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THE PLOT: Based on the first of the international best-selling serious of "Millennium trilogy" novels by late Swedish author/journalist Steig Larsson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - or more specifically, the American take - stars Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist. A disgraced financial journalist recently found guilty of libeling wealthy businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström (Ulf Friberg), Mikael is now $600,000 in the hole and resigning from "Millennium," the investigative magazine at which his fellow editor/occasional lover Erika Berger (Robin Wright) is trying to convince him to stay.
Then Mikael gets a call that changes his life from a man named Frode (Steven Berkoff), inviting him to meet with Henrik Vagner (Christopher Plummer) - retired head of the wealthy Vagner family that resides on a Swedish island they control. It seems Henrik wants Mikael to investigate the disappearance of Harriet, the niece he loved like a daughter he last saw some 40 years ago. As Henrik believes her killer is trying to drive him insane, sending him a framed picture of a flower every year on his birthday just like the ones Harriet used to give him. Worse yet, Henrik believes the killer could be a member of his family. And while Martin (Stellan Skarsgård) is a affable individual, others - such as former Nazi and recluse Harald (Per Myrberg), Cecilia (Geraldine James) and the elusive Anita (Joely Richardson) - are not the friendliest of people.
Meanwhile, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) has just finished doing a background check on Mikael for the Vagner family. An ingenious investigator/computer hacker, Lisbeth is also a ward of the state whose guardian has just suffered a stroke - placing her in the unfortunate situation of having Bjurman (Yorick van Wageningen, most recently seen in The Way with Martin Sheen) control her money - and other things, too. And for Lisbeth - a heavily tattooed, pierced, tight-lipped independent spirit, having to answer to someone - let alone a man like Bjurman - is problematic to say the least ...
Realizing that he needs help to solve the case, Mikael asks to meet with the one person he is certain can discover the missing pieces to the Harriet puzzle: Lisbeth. Apprehensive at first, Lisbeth agrees to help Mikael ...
What results puts them on a fast track into lies, deception, life-threatening situations ... And what ultimately might just be the truth about what really happened to Harriet Vagner.
THE TAKE: In 2009, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was adapted into a film starring Michael Nyqvist (currently in theaters in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) in the role of Mikael Blomkvist and Noomi Rapace (now seen starring in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) as Lisbeth Salander. The Swedish film, directed by Niels Arden Oplev, was critically acclaimed around the world and was generally viewed as doing great justice to Larsson's novel and showcasing the reason why his novels have sold 65,000,000 copies in 46 countries.
Well, let me say this as someone who's seen the Swedish version of the film and now its American adaptation. The Swedish version is good ... But the American version, thanks greatly to the scene stealing star turn by Mara and keen direction by director David Fincher (The Social Network) is even better.
Before I say anything else, let me acknowledge this: There are some key differences, story-wise, between the Swedish and American adaptations of Larsson's novel. I will leave it to you to either go to Wikipedia or see both films and determine just what they are. Thus, if you are one of those "It's not completely faithful to the book!" people, I don't really have anything I can offer you other than a "sorry."
If you can get over that; actually, strike that - the take offered by Fincher (and screenwriter Steven Zaillian) is a thrilling journey with visuals that draw you completely into the seedy world in which its characters exist. Despite a run time of 158 minutes, there are no wasted moments in the film as each scene reveals a key element of the story, a character's personality or how/why they act the way they do. Dark, twisted moments are truly dark and twisted, the relationships between the characters are intricately crafted and cultivated and the pacing expertly builds to a tense, captivating crescendo. For even if you know each of the key moments in the film, Fincher's work behind the lens coupled with Zaillian's colorful dialogue and structure serves to make you only anticipate it that much more - especially given their tweaks.
While Fincher is well-known throughout the film industry, Mara - due to her incredible performance as Lisbeth Salander - is the one person who stands to benefit the most from the film. For her gripping portrayal of Lisbeth is captivating from start to finish. She brings an intensity to the role that makes you feel, sympathize/identify with and understand every action she makes. You are scared of her potential violence, you want to cry for the violence she endures and, as a whole, are intrigued by her every move and the skill she exhibits in her job. (Lisbeth's, not Mara's, which in turn makes Mara's performance so incredible.) Sexy yet scary, seemingly invincible yet vulnerable at the same time, Mara owns the role from start to finish.
Of course, that's not to dismiss her co-star's performance or that of the supporting cast, for Craig brings a good balance of curiosity for the truth and his own personal agenda to his character. Likewise, the rest of the cast plays things very close to their respective chests quite well, keeping secrets from being tipped off, making you wonder how they fit into the intricate plot.
Add it all up and what you have is a rare film: One not only actually lives up to all its hype and goes on to exceed it.
PARTING SHOT: Despite billing itself as the "Feel Bad Movie" of the holiday season, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo a good, if not great, treat for all those who either love Larsson's book or are curious why it became a smash in the first place, largely in part to the star-in-the-making performance of Mara under Fincher's dark, twisted (and talented) eye.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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