“The Girl with the Dragon Tatto”
Director David Fincher’s (“Fight Club,” “The Social Network”) Oscar-winning adaptation of Steig Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series is a suspense filled mystery punctuated with thrilling moments and an open ended conclusion.
Daniel Craig (“Casino Royale,” “Golden Compass,” “Cowboys and Aliens”) plays Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist convicted of libel who has been hired by wealthy businessman Henrik Vagner (Christopher Plummer) to resolve the 40-year-old disappearance and suspected murder of a family member.
Known more for roles that portray him as an intense action hero, Craig appeared to be out of his comfort zone with this “the pen is mightier than the sword” outlook. Craig’s character had his ass handed to him several times throughout the film, accenting his descent from action icon.
The girl with the dragon tattoo is Lisbeth Salander, played by Rooney Mara (“The Social Network,” “Youth in Revolt”) who was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in this film.
Mara also stepped out of her recent roles of young innocence to the dark film’s leading heroine.
Salander (Mara) has a difficult life, a keen mind and superb computer hacking skills.
The movie focuses on the separate lives of Blomkvist (Craig) and Salander and the various troubles which later on intertwine their fates.
The costuming was very convincing for the character roles, from the rich family, to the struggling journalist and the rebellious multi-pierced youth wearing leather.
After the main characters were introduced, the film moved steadily forward with moments of flashbacks that contributed to Blomkvist and Salander’s investigation.
The film is mostly shot in greyish or dark tones which maintain a feel of gloom with brief episodes of bright colors reflecting happier events of the past.
The story takes on a twist toward the end and leaves an opening for the rest of the book series adaptations. Overall the R-rated film was a good experience with slightly predictable segments where the story stalled.
The CNM Chronicle gives this film three out of five dragon tattoos.
