Rooney Mara being Quizzical in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
A+
A Review by Frederick Cholowski
Only a year after Niels Arden
Oplev’s Swedish adaptation of the popular murder mystery novel The Girl
with the Dragon Tattoo (aka the best film of 2010) hit American theaters, David
Fincher’s English adaptation hit screens. The latest adaptation features an all star English
cast along with one of the best working directors and one of the best working
writers today. The result is a moody, atmospheric adaptation that is every bit
as good if not better than its Swedish predecessor.
For those not familiar with the story by now, The Girl with
the Dragon Tattoo follows the stories of down and out journalist Mikael Blomkvist
(Daniel Craig) and of the weird and tortured punk researcher Lisbeth Salander
(Rooney Mara). Blomkvist’s career has just been shattered after he was set up
with fake evidence involving a scandal regarding a high up business man. During
Christmas celebrations he is hired by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plumber) to
investigate the apparent murder of his most loved niece Harriet in exchange for
a large sum of cash and information that could help him dig Blomkvist out of
the hole he is in. The twist on the murder is that it happened 40 plus years
ago and no trace has ever been found. Meanwhile Lisbeth is going through tough
times with her new sexually abusive guardian Niels Bjurman (Yorick van
Wageningen). Soon the two paths cross and each
attempt to solve the age old mystery.
The story is nothing new but
the way it is this story has been presented feels fresh and new. First off
Lisbeth has always been a fantastic character and arguably one of the best female
characters ever written. Atmosphere has always been a key factor to these films
as well and in this film the atmosphere is creepier and chillier than the Swedish
offering. The fantastic cinematography and editing soar in this film taking
center stage in developing the always cold winter of Hempstead Sweden.
Another thing with the Girl with The Dragon Tattoo is that it is all about the characters and their stories rather than the mystery itself. In this aspect director David Fincher and screenwriter Steve Zillian do a superior job to the Swedish version. The supporting characters feel way more fleshed out in this version than in Oplev’s version. For example the relationship between Blomkvist and his long time editor of the magazine (as well as sex partner) Erika Beger (Robin Wright) is way more complicated and developed than in the Swedish film adding a new layer of complexity to Blomkvist as a character.
Acting wise Rooney Mara
steals the show and never gives it up. There seems to be something about the
character of Lisbeth Salander that creates stars. It happened with Noomi Repace
and it happens again here, despite them being radically different portrayals.
The LIsbeth in this film is more vulnerable and human than the Lisbeth portrayed
in the Swedish version. Both performances are fantastic but due to some writing
decisions I find Rooney’s Lisbeth more compelling. Craig shows some range as
Mikael and he never becomes bond or action star 101. Instead he is calm and
level headed and he also feels vulnerable and shattered. The supporting cast is
wonderful too with the always amazing Christopher Plumber leading the way as
the old slightly unstable Henrik Vanger.
Another shout out has to go
to the editing and the cinematography as they are both fantastic. Each set up a
mood that is uncompromisingly dark and chilly. The fantastic score by Trent
Reznor and Atticus Ross adds to the atmosphere as well. Also the film is even
more edgy and violent than the Swedish version with beginning with the “James
Bond intro from hell” all the way to the stunningly violent climax. It’s hard
to believe that Fincher got an R rating with some of the scenes in this film.
Overall Fincher’s adaptation
of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a fantastic film and one of the best of
2011. My mind will rage on about witch film is better the Swedish or the
American but overall it can be said that together the two films can easily
surpass the material it is based upon.
