QMR: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Bottomline: Terrific Film.

Where Can I See This Movie? It’s in wide release in theaters.

CAVEAT: This movie is Rated R – for a reason. There is extensive nudity, graphic sex, a brutal and disturbing rape scene, violence, and disturbing scenes of violence.

Interesting Note: This film has surprisingly humorous notes.

Disclaimers: I have not read the books. I have watched all three Swedish-made films.

What Else Has David Fincher Directed? The Social Network (2010), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Zodiac (2007), Panic Room (2002), Fight Club (1999), Se7en (1995)

QMR Opinion:
I’ll be honest. . .this movie is not for everyone. And Lisbeth Salander certainly won’t appeal to everyone. And, frankly, I don’t think either she or Director David Fincher care one way or the other. This film is a fantastic thriller, 40-year-old murder mystery and strong character-driven story. The basic thrust of the story centers on a discredited magazine publisher, Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), who is hired to investigate the 40-year old mysterious disappearance of a young woman who just happens to be a member of one of Sweden’s most prominent families. To conduct his investigation Blomkvist hires Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is something of a genius blessed with a photographic memory and extremely effective computer hacking skills. In addition, Salander is more than a little emotionally disturbed based on her history – replete with abuse (physical and verbal) from just about every man in her life. The running time of this film is just over two hours and 30 minutes, but you won’t notice. Fincher’s pacing of this film from the terrific opening credits to the very end is pitch perfect. Despite my initial reservations about her being able to inhabit the role of Salander, Rooney Mara is wonderful and is central to the success of this film and, I hope, the next two. The cast of supporting characters only strengthens the overall film – Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Plummer, Robin Wright, and Joely Richardson are strong. My one real problem with the film comes with the casting of Daniel Craig as Blomkvist. It’s probably a personal bias but somone who plays James Bond just doesn’t fit the profile of a magazine editor for me. I am telling you that you should see this film but be forewarned – it is not for the faint of heart. Of all the disturbing imagery used in the film (and there is plenty – including the graphic dismembering of a cat), the most disturbing is a brutal rape scene. But at the end of the day, I love a great film and I do love this film.