THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011)

Swedish investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist has just lost a high-profile libel case against a corrupt industrialist, which has wiped out both his bank account and probably his reputation. He is approached by the ultra-wealthy Henrik Vanger to solve the mystery of what happened to his niece Harriet who disappeared into thin air almost forty years ago.  Vanger believes someone in his very dysfunctional family is responsible, and as we meet them one by one we can understand why he should harbor such suspicions. Blomkvist disgraced and broke and keen to lay low in the country for a while, accepts the assignment, and during his investigations, he discovers a series of earlier killings that may or may not relate to Harriet’s disappearance. He gets somewhat overwhelmed with all the detail and asks for help and he is given the brilliant and antisocial researcher Lisbeth Salander, who had investigated Blomkvist himself before Vanger would hire him, is brought in to assist him.

As the title suggests Lisbeth is no ordinary looking women and along with her tattoos and body and facial piercings she has a fierce punk hair cut that matches her demeanor.  Because of her criminal past she is still a Ward of Court and her Guardian exploits her sexually before he will dole out her allowance.  Or that’s what he thinks until Lisbeth turned the table after the 2^nd brutal rape scene in the movie, but this time she is the aggressor.  It's also clue that that this powerful gritty story is not for the feint hearted.

It is in fact an enthralling and spellbinding thriller superbly made by the masterful director David Fincher ('Zodiac', 'Fight Club' etc.) and is possibly the best new release in this Christmas week packed full of cinematic treats. It will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire 158 minutes even if you have read the bestselling novel by Stieg Larsson it was based upon, or seen the original excellent Swedish movie released in 2009   This is where I have to eat my own words as when I blogged the first movie I had got wind that a Hollywood version was already on the cards and I was typically horrified.  I have yet to see a remake that is anything as good as the original.  And I still haven’t, as this was actually much better,  and frankly I think it unfair on Mr. Fincher to even label this such as he has filmed Larsson’s novel in very much his own idiom.  He has tinkered with the original story and made it tauter and tighter that made the plot flow more cohesively, and with the help of his cinematographer, he has directed a really highly dramatically visual treat.

The story is now much more focused on Lisbeth, stunning played by the relatively unknown Rooney Mara (who had a small role in Mr. Fincher's last movie 'The Social Network') and this is definitely going to get her Nominated for Best Actress.  Playing Blomqvist was no tough stretch for Daniel Craig who is used to being cast as the good guy who gets beaten up a bit chasing the bad guys whilst all sorts of women jump into bed with him regardless. The wonderful Christopher Plummer is the patriarchal Vanger and he may possibly pick up a Best Supporting Nomination for this (Trivia point: also in the movie is Goran Visnjic who played Mr. Plummer’s boyfriend in his last movie ‘Beginners’). The mainly Anglo/American cast also includes some acting stalwarts such as Stefan Berkoff, Joely Richardson, Robin Wright, and  Stellan Stargard. The only odd, and slightly annoying, element was that none of them could get a real handle on a Swedish accent .... some of them made brave attempts and failed, and Mr Craig never even bothered.  Thanks God for Mr Stargard who had an inbuilt advantage over them all. 

If you're idea of a  White Christmas is sitting white-knuckled in a movie theater, then don't miss this superb movie.  Its a real treat.

P.S.  Two major critics felt moved to comment on the nudity in this movie. David Denby in 'The New Yorker' wrote that he thought it unfair that Lizbeth bared all whilst Mr Craig 'kept his man panties on', and A O Scott in the 'NY Times' said it this way 'And when Mikael and Lisbeth interrupt their sleuthing for a bit of nonviolent sex, we see all of Ms. Mara and quite a bit less of Mr. Craig, whose naked torso is by now an eyeful of old news. Both of which bought a smile to my face. 

P.P.S. More Trivia: Swedish actor David Dencik acted in both the 2009 and 2011 films.


★★★★★★★★★★