Viewed: January 3rd 2012
For the record, I have not read the book penned by Stieg Larsson that this film was based off of. But, if the classical idea holds true and "the book is better than the movie", after I take a few weeks to recuperate from the film, I can't wait to get my hands on Larsson's work.
I truly believe that David Fincher, the director of the film, should be considered one of the best directors of the century. Though I will forever chastise the pacing of his films, I cannot deny that they are some of the most precious gems to be mined out of Hollywood in recent times. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is arguably his most mature and developed work yet. Fincher was honored with a nomination for Best Director at last year’s Academy Awards for his work on The Social Network, and I would be rather surprised if he didn't receive another nomination for this film. From the metallic wonderland presented during the main titles, and the staging of the movie's most disconcerting scenes, to the high-adrenaline thrills and beautifully orchestrated character interactions, it is quite obvious that Fincher has developed quite a creation.
The film stars Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist who is hired to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of a young girl who has been missing for forty years. When his investigative skills built up from years of reporting are not enough, he seeks the aid of a mysterious woman named Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). As brilliant as Lisbeth's mind is, her past is darker than her ink black hair, making her as dangerous as she is valuable. Rooney Mara’s portrayal of this hauntingly morose character is both elegant and jauntily harsh. She embodies one of the most shocking characters ever to grace the silver screen with a commanding air and appropriately straight-forward simplicity that makes her so hauntingly memorable. At her most vulnerable she is a broken, soft hearted woman. But there is a disastrous storm permanently raging in her intense gaze that makes it clear that even when she is vulnerable, she is about as mild as malevolent tiger.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a beautifully crafted mystery, an agonizing struggle to find truth, and a shocking glimpse of the human instinct to survive and overpower others. I can guarantee that you’ll have an intense experience seeing this film, and you may walk out equally as horrified as you do entertained—there are some sequences that are incredibly upsetting, but they are also some of the most enthralling in the movie. So while you may be cringing in your seat, you’ll also have your eyes glued to the screen, and it’s worth every penny you pay.
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