GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011)
US/UK/SE/DE
Directed by David Fincher

CAST:
Daniel Craig - Mikael Blomkvist
Rooney Mara - Lisbeth Salander
Christopher Plummer - Henrik Vanger

PLOT:
     Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker. As their investigation goes on they uncover an intense corruption they weren't expecting.

REVIEW:
     It's pretty, I've actually have had the Swedish version of the film for over a year and still have never watched it. I've heard great thing about it, yet I still didn't watch it. Then around the same time I got the original version I found out that there was going to be a American version of the film. That's when my dilemma came up. I'm a big supporter of not remaking films, specially if the original is supposed to be well done. Yet with this movie I found out that David Fincher was going to be directing, and my hopes for it went up by a considerable amount. So I held off watching the Swedish version of the movie until after I saw the American version so where I can go into the movie fresh and not knowing what to expect and not have any baggage going into watching it or reviewing the movie.

     There will be minor spoilers ahead so do beware!

     Before I go into the review, I just have to talk about one thing first. If you are so immature that you laugh at someone being raped or being forced to give someone sexual pleasure against their will, whether it be in real life or on the screen, you don't need to be going to movies like this with your friends, who also laugh at situations like that. I enjoy going to movies at theaters due to that you get a much fuller experience of enjoying a giant screen and have superior audio to listen to. Both these things bring a richer experience, yet it only takes a couple of idiot fucking kids to ruin what could be a fun night out, and completely take you out of a movie that you were just settling into. Yes, those of us that love the horror/ dark fantasy genre are more open to laughing at what is going on in front of you during movies. Yet I like to think that those of us that do, know when the feel of a movie is different. We know when something is played for fun and when it is played for seriousness.   I have never laughed at rape, and never will. It's not funny and NEVER will be. Thanks you  idiot fucking teenagers.

     Okay now that the bitch session is done, I have to talk about the acting. Even though the film is filled with amazing actors and actresses, yet they are all over shadowed by  Rooney Mara's portrayal of Lisbeth Salander. Mara is just amazing to watch as she tries to glide through the first half of the film completely anti-social and afraid of everyone. It is during this time you find out much about Salander and the lengths she will go to if someone hurts her. But it is during the final couple of minutes that shine the best for Mara and her character Salander, as it shows just how close she has become to someone only to be heartbroken at the end for what is probably the first person she truly ever loved.  It was kinda odd watching Daniel Graig as Mikael Blomkvist. The reason why I say this is because I got used to seeing Craig as a tough guy that rarely shows fear and always has a backup plan in mind. Yet as Blomkvist, Craig is vulnerable and unsure of what to do and is lost for half the film. Unlike other characters Craig has played Blomkvist is human, and has all the human flaws which puts Craig on a different acting level than he was ever on.

     I just have to say that this was one rough movie in spots. Not that the story was bad or the acting, just scenes in general and what was going on during the movie. The film doesn't pull any punches during these scenes and it gets hard to watch at two points. One of those scenes being  the rape of Lisbeth Salander, could have done with some trimming as it was just hard to watch considering what all was going on. Other than that every scene had something going on, even the slower parts with no talking in them, they were used to show how the characters functioned. The way they think. It's been a while since I've seen a really good thriller and mystery film and this one does the job very well. It's not  a perfect film, I called the killer halfway through the film, but it is one of the best movies I've seen this year.

BEST DEATH:
     Even though it's not a death, it is is Salander's revenge on her State appointed guardian Nils Bjurman.

BEST LINE:
     Soon you'll know us all too well, with my apologies.

FUN FACTS:
     The movie was shot in Sweden during one of the coldest winters in over 20 years.

     The piercings (including multiple ear, eyebrow, and nipple piercings) that Rooney Mara sports as Lisbeth Salander are real, not cosmetic simulations. Mara got the piercings in a series of sessions in Brooklyn and Sweden.

     Some actress that were rejected for the role of  Lisbeth Salander include Natalie Portman who declined due to exhaustion, Scarlett Johansson but was considered to sexy, and Jennifer Lawrence who was turned down due to being to tall. Other actresses include Emma Watson, Ellen Page, and Katie Jarvis.

     Daniel Craig originally turned down the role of Mikael Blomkvist due to possible conflicts with Skyfall, the next James Bond movie. After Skyfall's production was put on hold, Craig retook the role.

     The American version of the film is named one of the Top 10 movies of the year by the American Film Institute, and has been nominated for multiple awards including Best Actress and Best Director.