David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo succeeded in achieving the high standards set by the book series and the Swedish film adaptations produced in 2009. The film was a perfect and toxic combination of shocking, graphic material and a suspenseful, mysterious atmosphere.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an adaptation of the first novel in a trilogy by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson. The film follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist , played by Daniel Craig, who has recently been sued for libel and discredited. Mikael is hired by a man named Henrik Vanger , played by Christopher Plummer, to investigate the mysterious murder of his niece. The murder took place 40 years ago during a busy family reunion, and thus went unsolved.
Mikael hires an assistant Lisbeth Salander , played by Rooney Mara, to help him solve this dark family mystery. Lisbeth is a 24-year-old computer hacker hired to gather information for a security firm. Her character is potrayed as a violent natured young woman who wears leather and combat boots and is covered in tattoos and piercings. As a child she was subjected to abuse and thus spent most of her life as a ward of the state.
Together the two delve into the dangerous and disturbing Vanger family secrets; these secrets have buried haunting truths about the family’s past and the murder of Henrik’s niece.
As Mikael and Lisbeth uncover the truth about the murder of Henrik’s niece, they encounter violence, torture and non-stop action. Lisbeth is also constantly being hounded by her disturbed state guardian. These events make the plot of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo intriguing and cryptic, making a film filled with elements of a psychological thriller, but also packed with incessant action.
The character of Mikael is dark, interesting and handsome, similar to Daniel Craig’s other roles in Defiance and the James Bond films. His attitude is sympathetic but tough, causing him to be alluring and strong.
This contrasts strongly with Lisbeth’s fiery, defiant and viciously violent attitude. Though she isn’t just all brawn; she also has a photographic memory and can hack into any bank, business or personal computer database.
Much of the film works thanks to the direction of David Fincher . Fincher has been known for his sinister psychological thrillers, such as Fight Club, Zodiac, and Seven, and the impressive drama The Social Network. Fincher achieves success yet again with the his dark adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
The complementary personalities brought to life on-screen by Craig and Mara, combined with the intricate mystery of the plot and Fincher’s direction, breathe life into the U.S . version of the international phenomenon. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a captivating and shocking film that will keep viewers intrigued until the credits roll.
