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Based on the immensly popular Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is a fast paced Swedish thriller directed by Niels Arden Oplev. The film is the first installment of the three part Millennium Trilogy, which includes the recently released "The Girl who Played with Fire," and the "The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest." The movie follows Larsson's novel in a way that is rarely achieved with adaptations. The same twisting and complex plot that runs through the book is still at the heart of the movie, just condensed into 129 minutes.
The movie contains characteristics all good thrillers should have — Nazis, serial killers, motorcycle chases and good ol' fashion revenge. Mikael Blomkvist, once a top journalist at Millennium Magazine, is convicted of libel and becomes the disgrace of the journalism community. Unsure of what to do next, Blomkvist is approached by the wealthy Henrik Vanger, an old man obsessed and tormented by the disappearance of his niece, Harriet, 40 years ago. Henrik believes someone in the Vanger family murdered Harriet and he wants Blomkvist to reopen the case and investigate it once more. With few options, Blomkvist accepts.
Blomkvist then dives deep into the history of the sinister and corrupt Vanger family. Sorting through boxes upon boxes of newspaper clippings and photographs, Blomkvist can't seem to fit the puzzle pieces of this intricate web of lies together. Lisbeth Salander, an anti-social computer hacker, comes into Blomkvist's life in an unexpected way and the journalist soon realizes the brilliance of Lisbeth Salander. The two pair up as an unlikely team of detectives and set out to solve the case of Harriet Vanger.
While the main mystery in the film is Harriet Vanger's disappearance, a close second is the enigmatic Lisbeth Salander — the girl with the dragon tattoo. Lisbeth is not a typical Hollywood heroine. While she weighs an unassuming 90 pounds and stands only 5 feet tall, her multiple piercings and gothic clothing make Lisbeth stand out on the streets of Stockholm. Mikael Blomkvist, as well as viewers, is baffled and yet fascinated by this extremely violent and brilliant young woman.
What makes "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" stand out as not only a great thriller but a great film is the way Larsson and director Niels Arden Oplev examine the theme of misogyny and sexual violence against women. Larsson created a heroine who does not accept abuse but instead strikes back with fury. Unlike other thriller films, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" does not have a female character that is dependent on the hero of the movie. Lisbeth does not rely on Blomkvist. In fact, it is Blomkvist who must rely on Lisbeth.
It was recently announced that the American version of "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" is set to be released in December 2011, staring Daniel Craig as Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Salander. It comes as little surprise that Hollywood would be quick to jump on the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" bandwagon, however, it seems very unnecessary to recreate a movie only a couple of years after the original was released. While many Americans seem turned off by subtitles, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is worth seeing in its original.
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is now available on DVD. Its sequel, "The Girl that Played with Fire," is playing at the Magic Lantern. Overall: A-.
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