For his latest film, David Fincher decided to tackle one of the most popular books of the last decade, and he scored another big hit. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a fast paced thriller that holds your attention from beginning to end.
Synopsis: an investigative journalist finds himself in hot waters when his latest hit piece encroaches on the turf of a rich and powerful man. Having to lay low for a while, he accepts to investigate the sudden disappearance, years prior, of the niece of another powerful man during a family reunion. He will find this assignment even more dangerous than the prior one, and will be helped by an unlikely alienated hacker.
Daniel Craig brings his raw masculinity and acting to a role that seems custom built for him. However, it’s Rooney Mara (unrecognizable from The Social Network) that steals the show as the titular heroine. She is a revelation, in the rawness of her craft and the ability to fish such a deep characterization out of her young soul. She deservedly received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her turn as Lisbeth Salander, and her place in Hollywood is already firmly established.
Among the sprawling supporting cast, a mention goes to Christopher Plummer (2011 was really a plum year for the aging actor), Stellan Skarsgård, and Joely Richardson. All three I’ve seen and appreciated in many other roles, and once again delivered impressive performances.
Fincher’s style, which I’m a big fan of, is once again front and center. The rich photography helps us keep track of the intricate plot, the camera angles drive up the interest and the suspense, and the soundtrack’s techno up-tempo perfectly underscores the whole movie (are Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Fincher’s new musical muses?). Finally, the screenplay is well written, although not having read the book, I cannot say how it dealt with the original story itself.
The Bottom Line: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a great action thriller movie that should please not just the fans of Stieg Larsson’s novel, but every cinephile out there. Don’t miss it, especially if you’re a David Fincher fan.
Grade: 9
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