The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was a film that I was completely oblivious of. So in other words, I went into this film blindly. What this film presented was a surprisingly interesting plot that often reminded me of films such as Erik Skjoldbjærg’s Insomnia. The visualization of pain and redemption, old and new, are depicted throughout the film as a deep examination of a forty-year old murder unfolds. The film is based on the novel of the same title (written by Steig Larsson); two more films in the series are dated to be released in theaters. The second film, The Girl Who Played With Fire, is now in theaters.
The main characters, a young female, Lisbeth (computer hacker), and a middle-aged man, Mikael (journalist), are contrasted in outstanding Swedish backgrounds which tend to, more often than not, detract from any visual flaws (continuity) in the film. This is a well-shot film. And yet, even if the cinematography were drab, the film would have still kept my attention with its thoroughly crafted story line. Both main characters in the film are abused in some manner, whether through the hands of their “parole officer” or by the lenses of popular media. However, payback’s not a forgotten theme for this film.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo may seem like another “cold case gone hot” murder/mystery but it’s much deeper than any review or synopsis I came across. It’s an entertaining transfer from page to celluloid that despite having a lengthy running time (of 152 min.) seems to never bore. In other words, the length is appropriate. The acting is strong, the cinematography is moving, and the story is slickly polished. I expect more from the next in the series. – [DVD] [Blu-Ray]
Crime/Mystery/Thriller
Rated R
DVD Release Date: 7/6/10