The chills you get, the suspense you wait for, the brutality that occurs, the insanity within and redemption is what Fincher gives us with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
From the opening credits of the film which looks like a nightmare, the tone is set. It is going to be dark.
Mikael is a journalist who gets humiliated by businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström. He is having an affair with his editor Erika (Claire Underwood/Robin Wright) which has affected his marriage but not hers. He gets invited by Henrik Vanger a wealthy businessman who gives him a case to investigate about disappearance of his grandniece Harriet, 40 years ago. As he has nothing left much he accepts the case and starts to investigate.
On the other side we have Lisbeth Salander who has investigated Mikael for Henrik is a talented hacker with troubled background. She keeps to herself, she is not social and is under state legal guardianship. Her guardian gets hospitalized and she is passed onto a new one. Bjurman her new guardian abuses his authority to extort sexual favors from Salander and violently rapes her. But Lisbeth gets her revenge by recording his activity, tattooing ‘I am a rapist pig’ on his chest and blackmailing him to giver her whole access of her bank accounts.
As Mikael starts to investigate he gets to know the Vanger family, which is very much fucked up than you can imagine. Mikael finds some clues of Harriet’s disappearance, but he needs someone who can go deep than he can. So he hires Lisbeth and soon things starts to unravel. A dark and brutal secret is uncovered.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo achieves its dark journey and the hidden secrets that were left unanswered 40 years ago. The Cinematography which details every emotion that is to be captured, a crisp editing which won the much deserving Academy Award and Trent Raznor and Atticus Rose’s score which gets you hypnotized within the film. It has a ambience that matches every emotion of the characters and the scene.
Steven Zaillian beautifully crafts the screenplay, keeping us like a ticking clock and David Fincher doesn’t disappoint with his direction.
As I have seen the original Swedish version, I can say that they both are similar in many aspects. The one thing that this version captures more exceptionally than original is the relationship between Mikael and Lisbeth. In the original the duo just seemed off at points, here Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara build their relationship and the chemistry it needs.
Coming to the performances, Rooney Mara gives a Tour de Force performance of her career. The way she handles Lisbeth and her persona is just brilliant. Only her accents was sometimes here and there. Daniel Craig does his job as Mikael, not being cool as Bond but everything the character needs. In supporting Stellan Skarsgård, Christopher Plummer and Robin Wright provide string support especially Stellan Skarsgård.
Sometimes it is very tough to watch some scenes like when Lisbeth is getting raped, it is just violent and brutal.
This one is upgraded in its visual and the tone it sets which the original lacked. I hope Sony get their minds straight and make the remaining sequels with Rooney Mara.
Rating : 5/5
Cinema Through my Eyes 