"Dragon Tattoo" is the American remake of the 2009 Swedish film of the same name directed by Niels Arden Oplev. Image from Clockworkmovies.com.
By Jaren Jolley
NOTE: This film is rated R. Director David Fincher had extremely high expectations to fill with his adaption of the international best selling novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and its Swedish film version from 2009. Fincher’s directorial credentials (Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Social Network) make him more than capable enough to take on such a massively acclaimed piece of work. Coupled with an impeccable cast featuring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, and Stellan Skarsgard, Dragon Tattoo draws undeniable attention.
Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) is a financial journalist and co-editor of Millenium magazine. When Blomkvist runs a story about a financial mogul that is inaccurate and is charged with libel. After having lost some of his credibility, Blomkvist is offered a job by retired CEO, Henrik Vanger (Plummer), to solve the case of his 16 year-old niece who has been missing since the 1960’s. Reluctantly taking on the task, he moves up to a remote island where the girl went missing. But before he is hired, a thorough examination is done on him by a brilliant but strange young lady named Lisabeth Salander (Mara). Having previously dealt with several personal issues and physical abuse, Salander joins up with Blomkvist, and the two begin to try a piece together to case of a missing girl 40 years ago; taking them on an adventure through intense situations.
The complex and powerful plot of this film as well as its stunning cinematography and setting make it one of the most enduring and captivating films of 2011. But the characters are the most important focal point of the film, specifically Rooney Mara. Mara dedicates herself to this role entirely with tattoos, piercings, and hair dye, and it pays off masterfully. This being her first major role, audiences will be impressed by her screen presence. Although this film can be disturbing at times, it’s to be expected when you take a visionary director and a dark story and fuse them into a gripping and intense product. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is stimulating in every cinematic sense, but if things of graphic nature deter you easily, I would not recommend it. To me, however, it is a remarkable picture on nearly every level. A total achievement.
Also to be noted, the score for the film was done by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and Atticus Ross, who worked together on Fincher's last film, The Social Network. Completely unique and engaging, the music helps bring the movie alive. Incredible work done by Ross and Reznor. The film even features a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song. Give it a listen below.
NOTE: This film is rated R. Director David Fincher had extremely high expectations to fill with his adaption of the international best selling novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and its Swedish film version from 2009. Fincher’s directorial credentials (Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Social Network) make him more than capable enough to take on such a massively acclaimed piece of work. Coupled with an impeccable cast featuring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, and Stellan Skarsgard, Dragon Tattoo draws undeniable attention.
Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) is a financial journalist and co-editor of Millenium magazine. When Blomkvist runs a story about a financial mogul that is inaccurate and is charged with libel. After having lost some of his credibility, Blomkvist is offered a job by retired CEO, Henrik Vanger (Plummer), to solve the case of his 16 year-old niece who has been missing since the 1960’s. Reluctantly taking on the task, he moves up to a remote island where the girl went missing. But before he is hired, a thorough examination is done on him by a brilliant but strange young lady named Lisabeth Salander (Mara). Having previously dealt with several personal issues and physical abuse, Salander joins up with Blomkvist, and the two begin to try a piece together to case of a missing girl 40 years ago; taking them on an adventure through intense situations.
The complex and powerful plot of this film as well as its stunning cinematography and setting make it one of the most enduring and captivating films of 2011. But the characters are the most important focal point of the film, specifically Rooney Mara. Mara dedicates herself to this role entirely with tattoos, piercings, and hair dye, and it pays off masterfully. This being her first major role, audiences will be impressed by her screen presence. Although this film can be disturbing at times, it’s to be expected when you take a visionary director and a dark story and fuse them into a gripping and intense product. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is stimulating in every cinematic sense, but if things of graphic nature deter you easily, I would not recommend it. To me, however, it is a remarkable picture on nearly every level. A total achievement.
Also to be noted, the score for the film was done by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and Atticus Ross, who worked together on Fincher's last film, The Social Network. Completely unique and engaging, the music helps bring the movie alive. Incredible work done by Ross and Reznor. The film even features a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song. Give it a listen below.
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