This adaptation of the Stieg Larsson novel of the same name begins with a gnarly intro from Blur Studios featuring random bodies and masses emerging from a dark liquid. Set to a cover of Led Zepplin’s “Immigrant Song,” the intro sets the tone that this movie will be gritty and spare no grotesque detail.
David Fincher (“Fight Club,” “The Social Network”) is at the helm of this dark thriller about journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and his unlikely partner, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), as they attempt to solve a mystery over 30 years in the making.
The film starts off with Blomkvist being convicted of libel for an article he wrote in his magazine about business tycoon Hans-Erik Wennerstrom, a shady character. Knowing that he was set up but unable to do anything about it, Blomkvist decides to lay low. Blomkvist is feeling down about himself and his career, and isn’t sure what to do, until a former CEO of the massive Vanger Corporation calls asking if he wants to solve a mystery.
Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) has been in agony for over 30 years, since the mysterious disappearance of his niece, Harriet Vanger. He believes that someone in his own family murdered her. He wants Blomkvist to investigate the murder under the cover that he is writing a biography of the deeply twisted Vanger Family, almost all of whom live on Hedeby Island in rural Sweden. Blomkvist reluctantly accepts after Vanger promises to help him nail down Wennerstrom for good.
Meanwhile, troubled youth Salander arrives on screen in full black leather, with piercings aplenty and a spiky collar around her neck. She has been declared mentally incompetent by the state and she has almost no friends, yet she has become the best researcher at Milton Security.
Salander has been assigned to do a background check on Blomkvist for Vanger. She reports that he is clean and, when prodded, admits that she thinks he is innocent.
When Blomkvist needs help researching, Salander is suggested- and when he reads his own background check, he realizes that she is a world-class computer hacker. The two become the most unlikely pair of coworkers and casual lovers, as the search for Harriet’s killer takes off on a twisted ride for the ages. Fincher shows grit and brutality, along with an incredibly in-depth look at the human psyche, as the viewer tries to analyze the mindset of each character.
The film is very graphic, and takes full advantage of its “R” rating by including bodily mutilation, several graphic rape scenes and plenty of nudity to go around.
Craig continues his dominance of male leading roles with another solid performance. He comes off as a more realistic James Bond. Picture the spy a bit clumsier, while maintaining the usual staples of being good-looking, drinking a lot and, of course, womanizing. Craig nails the role as well as anyone could and will hopefully be reprising in the rest of the trilogy.
But his costar Mara steals the show. Her transformation into Salander is nothing short of a miracle. Take a look at her as Mark Zuckerberg’s girlfriend in “The Social Network,” and you will see just how drastic the change is. Mara’s portrayal as the icy cold Salander is spot-on, and she has received critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Don’t be surprised to see her showing up in more prominent roles down the road.
Salander is what makes this movie interesting. She is the definition of an unlikely hero, and her unorthodox ways and no-nonsense attitude leave the viewer anxiously waiting to see what she does next.
This movie is action-packed and, while it drags a little, with a running time of 157 minutes, it is definitely worth a watch. Those who read the book will find some discrepancies in the plot but, as a whole, the adaption flows fairly well, and readers won’t be disappointed.
