I feel that something's amiss. It was there during my initial viewing and it's stuck with me through the second. A mixed feeling of disappointment and slight frustration that I don't quite understand. David Fincher, with such titles as Se7en, Zodiac, Fight Club and last year's magnificent The Social Network under his belt, a film of a similar caliber as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo would seem right up his alley. Expectations where obviously high from its original announcement and, while there were the few skeptics, it was a movie that seemed unlikely to fail. But what do we get as the end result? A moderately decent adaption bringing all the story but none of the spark or grit.
The story surrounds high-profile and recently disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) after a libel dispute that threatens his career. He is soon recruited by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), head business man to the wealthy industrial Vanger family, to investigate the over forty year old murder case of his great-niece, Harriet. Despite Blomkvist's initial hesitance towards accepting a seemingly lost cause, he eventually gives and agrees to do all he can in bringing Harriet's killer to justice. Blomkvist is repeatedly referred to as an "exceptional investigative journalist," leading to his employment by Henrik and Craig's brilliantly cold portrayal of the character makes this believable. While attempting to provide a fresh opinion on a presumedly hopeless case, the only person of which having faith being Henrik, he also is trying to escape the scandal of the media surrounding him.
On the other end of the spectrum is the 23 year old Lisbeth Salander (The Social Network's Rooney Mara), a rightfully frigid and distant elite hacker who makes her living by doing background checks on people for various clients. Many of which happily look the other way in the event of her actions proving less than legal. I say "rightfully frigid" before due to her heavily implied and obviously traumatic childhood, resulting in the requirement of a ward and continued supervision by growingly abusive government officials. Mara plays the part well enough and she will no doubt receive numerous nominations but it feels lacking in raw emotion in contrast to Noomi Rapace's original role as the character, something that I can't in good judgement blame on the actress (more on that later).
Despite their outward differences, Blomkvist and Salander mirror each other well throughout the story. Both put a personal drive and reason into their search for a killer of women and that obsession only grows as the case becomes more gruesome. The film is nearly half over before their partnership begins, and before this point, the character development is replaced by fast paced editing aiming to keep the viewer's attention.
Soon after their introduction to one another, it isn't long before their "professional" relationship turns to something more but the problem with this is the extreme lack of reason. There's nothing to draw these characters together besides the fact that they're currently working with one another and there is seldom any chemistry between the two. This is brought on by the quick pace previously mentioned and despite its near three hour run time, there is a surprisingly low amount of character development that makes one feel for what's taking place on screen.
Fincher has been known as a perfectionist and one who claims to never repeat himself, but I feel here too much style has been brought over since The Social Network, explaining it's choppy editing and fast dialogue that doesn't seem to fit this narrative. Niels Arden Oplev's 2009 rendition of the story presented a far less confident film that brought out a raw, more realistic feel and while it's by no means bad to add your own touch to a beloved series, the wrong choice was made in the making of this particular film. What we have here boils down to an overzealous piece by an overly confident director. This isn't an insult, more as it is stating a fact. This type of attitude did nothing for the source material and only hindered the brilliant aspects of the film.
To its credit, the screenplay is top notch with Oscar winning writer Steven Zaillian, (Schindler's List, Moneyball, Gangs of New York) bringing a wonderfully composed script and I applaud the cinematography for it's beautifully bleak and desolate portrayal of the frozen Swedish setting but it's easy to see the direction is the weak link. The colourful cast of supporting characters bring a sense of dread and suspicion throughout, with particular mention to Stellan Skarsgard and Christopher Plummer who manages to put more emotion into his brief role than most actors. Credit shouldn't be taken away from our two leads either. In their own right, Craig and Mara deserve every bit of credit they receive but the sudden shifts in character without even the subtlest of explanations can't go unforgiven and that's without noting the unfaithful sways in story from the source material.
Still, the film is without question, something that can only be described as an on screen page-turner and viewers who have yet to read the book or seen the previous films will undoubtedly be satisfied, albeit somewhat confused, by the whodunit aspects of the story. Being a huge fan of the original may have a hindering effect on my judgement but through the eyes of a first time viewer, my main gripes will be seen with the same amount of distaste as one with my similar personal prejudice.
My original skepticism unfortunately only proved accurate, due to possibly my own projected criticism but Fincher's work here seems to be an odd combination of not only uninspired and dispassionate but overconfident that simply doesn't work with the source material. What's worse is that the story here focuses less on Lisbeth and instead lets Daniel Craig's character take center stage throughout most of the picture.
The end result turns out as nothing short of adequate and satisfying to some but it does the preceding film no favours and its literary source no justice, especially considering its unnecessary changes to the story. The latter of which being the most disappointing. The overall character shifts and tonal differences in disposition don't fit and aren't explained, leaving the already convoluted plot that more unsatisfying in the end. Overall, however, Fincher's supposed "artistic vision" of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo will serve for some as a vast improvement over the original or to others as a disgrace to the series as a whole. I feel I fall somewhere between these two extreme categories. While it doesn't bring anything new to the already engrossing world created by Steig Larson in the first book, and in some cases hurts the feel of a previously invigorating tale, it will undoubtedly appease many moviegoers and fans of the series alike.
Remember, that I am now taking requests for reviews, so any suggestions for future reviews or lists you may have, please let me know via PM or in the replies to this review.
The story surrounds high-profile and recently disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) after a libel dispute that threatens his career. He is soon recruited by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), head business man to the wealthy industrial Vanger family, to investigate the over forty year old murder case of his great-niece, Harriet. Despite Blomkvist's initial hesitance towards accepting a seemingly lost cause, he eventually gives and agrees to do all he can in bringing Harriet's killer to justice. Blomkvist is repeatedly referred to as an "exceptional investigative journalist," leading to his employment by Henrik and Craig's brilliantly cold portrayal of the character makes this believable. While attempting to provide a fresh opinion on a presumedly hopeless case, the only person of which having faith being Henrik, he also is trying to escape the scandal of the media surrounding him.
On the other end of the spectrum is the 23 year old Lisbeth Salander (The Social Network's Rooney Mara), a rightfully frigid and distant elite hacker who makes her living by doing background checks on people for various clients. Many of which happily look the other way in the event of her actions proving less than legal. I say "rightfully frigid" before due to her heavily implied and obviously traumatic childhood, resulting in the requirement of a ward and continued supervision by growingly abusive government officials. Mara plays the part well enough and she will no doubt receive numerous nominations but it feels lacking in raw emotion in contrast to Noomi Rapace's original role as the character, something that I can't in good judgement blame on the actress (more on that later).
Watch me be all broodin' and shit.
Despite their outward differences, Blomkvist and Salander mirror each other well throughout the story. Both put a personal drive and reason into their search for a killer of women and that obsession only grows as the case becomes more gruesome. The film is nearly half over before their partnership begins, and before this point, the character development is replaced by fast paced editing aiming to keep the viewer's attention.
Soon after their introduction to one another, it isn't long before their "professional" relationship turns to something more but the problem with this is the extreme lack of reason. There's nothing to draw these characters together besides the fact that they're currently working with one another and there is seldom any chemistry between the two. This is brought on by the quick pace previously mentioned and despite its near three hour run time, there is a surprisingly low amount of character development that makes one feel for what's taking place on screen.
Fincher has been known as a perfectionist and one who claims to never repeat himself, but I feel here too much style has been brought over since The Social Network, explaining it's choppy editing and fast dialogue that doesn't seem to fit this narrative. Niels Arden Oplev's 2009 rendition of the story presented a far less confident film that brought out a raw, more realistic feel and while it's by no means bad to add your own touch to a beloved series, the wrong choice was made in the making of this particular film. What we have here boils down to an overzealous piece by an overly confident director. This isn't an insult, more as it is stating a fact. This type of attitude did nothing for the source material and only hindered the brilliant aspects of the film.
To its credit, the screenplay is top notch with Oscar winning writer Steven Zaillian, (Schindler's List, Moneyball, Gangs of New York) bringing a wonderfully composed script and I applaud the cinematography for it's beautifully bleak and desolate portrayal of the frozen Swedish setting but it's easy to see the direction is the weak link. The colourful cast of supporting characters bring a sense of dread and suspicion throughout, with particular mention to Stellan Skarsgard and Christopher Plummer who manages to put more emotion into his brief role than most actors. Credit shouldn't be taken away from our two leads either. In their own right, Craig and Mara deserve every bit of credit they receive but the sudden shifts in character without even the subtlest of explanations can't go unforgiven and that's without noting the unfaithful sways in story from the source material.
Though, admittedly, there's nothing wrong with
more Daniel Craig screentime.
more Daniel Craig screentime.
Still, the film is without question, something that can only be described as an on screen page-turner and viewers who have yet to read the book or seen the previous films will undoubtedly be satisfied, albeit somewhat confused, by the whodunit aspects of the story. Being a huge fan of the original may have a hindering effect on my judgement but through the eyes of a first time viewer, my main gripes will be seen with the same amount of distaste as one with my similar personal prejudice.
My original skepticism unfortunately only proved accurate, due to possibly my own projected criticism but Fincher's work here seems to be an odd combination of not only uninspired and dispassionate but overconfident that simply doesn't work with the source material. What's worse is that the story here focuses less on Lisbeth and instead lets Daniel Craig's character take center stage throughout most of the picture.
The end result turns out as nothing short of adequate and satisfying to some but it does the preceding film no favours and its literary source no justice, especially considering its unnecessary changes to the story. The latter of which being the most disappointing. The overall character shifts and tonal differences in disposition don't fit and aren't explained, leaving the already convoluted plot that more unsatisfying in the end. Overall, however, Fincher's supposed "artistic vision" of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo will serve for some as a vast improvement over the original or to others as a disgrace to the series as a whole. I feel I fall somewhere between these two extreme categories. While it doesn't bring anything new to the already engrossing world created by Steig Larson in the first book, and in some cases hurts the feel of a previously invigorating tale, it will undoubtedly appease many moviegoers and fans of the series alike.
Movies:
Best Movies of the Decade [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.164045-Best-Films-of-the-Decade-Warning-Extremely-Long-Review] I Inception [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.215806-JK-Reviews-Inception] I Oldboy [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.236848-JK-Reviews-Oldboy] I Thirst [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.238393-JK-Reviews-Thirst] I Noroi [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.258713-JK-Reviews-Noroi] I Ghost in the Shell [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.264848-Poll-JK-Reviews-Ghost-in-the-Shell?view_results=1] I Top 25 Favourite Films [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.273264-JKs-Top-25-Favourite-Films#comment_form] I Kodomo no Jikan (series) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.283845-JK-Reviews-Kodomo-No-Jikan] I Super 8 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.291002-JK-Reviews-Super-8]
Games:
Bayonetta [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.169030-JK-Reviews-Bayonetta-Warning-May-Contain-Spoilers] I Game of the Year 2009 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163760-Celebration-for-My-5000th-post-Game-of-the-Year-awards] I God of War III [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.182952-JK-Reviews-God-of-War-III] I NieR [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.203204-JK-Reviews-NIER] I Castlevania: Lament of Innocence [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.206361-JK-Reviews-Castlevania-Lament-of-Innocence] I Maximo: Ghosts To Glory [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.212014-JK-Reviews-Maximo-Ghosts-To-Glory] I Kingdom Hearts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.229506-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Kingdom-Hearts] I Kingdom Hearts II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.230725-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Kingdom-Hearts-II] I Assassin's Creed Brotherhood [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.248762-JK-Reviews-Assassins-Creed-Brotherhood] I Top 12 Games of 2010 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.252471-JKs-Top-12-Best-Games-of-2010] I Bioshock [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.262110-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Bioshock] I Fallout: New Vegas [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.266849-JK-Reviews-Fallout-New-Vegas] I Silent Hill 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.270928-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Silent-Hill-2] I Dragon Age 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.276414-JK-Reviews-Dragon-Age-II] I Infamous2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.300006-JK-Reviews-InFAMOUS-2#comment_form] I Catherine [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.312121-JK-Reviews-Catherine] I Deus Ex: Human Revolution [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.314275-JK-Reviews-Deus-Ex-Human-Revolution] I Dark Souls [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.319053-JK-Reviews-Dark-Souls] I Batman: Arkham City [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.324411-JK-Reviews-Batman-Arkham-City] I Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.329980-JK-Reviews-Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-3]
Music:
Equilibrium's ReKreatur [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.204108-JK-Reviews-Equilibrium-ReKreatur] I Devin Townsend's Deconstruction & Ghost [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.307243-JK-Reviews-Devin-Townsend-Deconstruction-Ghost]
Best Movies of the Decade [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.164045-Best-Films-of-the-Decade-Warning-Extremely-Long-Review] I Inception [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.215806-JK-Reviews-Inception] I Oldboy [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.236848-JK-Reviews-Oldboy] I Thirst [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.238393-JK-Reviews-Thirst] I Noroi [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.258713-JK-Reviews-Noroi] I Ghost in the Shell [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.264848-Poll-JK-Reviews-Ghost-in-the-Shell?view_results=1] I Top 25 Favourite Films [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.273264-JKs-Top-25-Favourite-Films#comment_form] I Kodomo no Jikan (series) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.283845-JK-Reviews-Kodomo-No-Jikan] I Super 8 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.291002-JK-Reviews-Super-8]
Games:
Bayonetta [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.169030-JK-Reviews-Bayonetta-Warning-May-Contain-Spoilers] I Game of the Year 2009 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163760-Celebration-for-My-5000th-post-Game-of-the-Year-awards] I God of War III [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.182952-JK-Reviews-God-of-War-III] I NieR [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.203204-JK-Reviews-NIER] I Castlevania: Lament of Innocence [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.206361-JK-Reviews-Castlevania-Lament-of-Innocence] I Maximo: Ghosts To Glory [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.212014-JK-Reviews-Maximo-Ghosts-To-Glory] I Kingdom Hearts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.229506-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Kingdom-Hearts] I Kingdom Hearts II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.230725-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Kingdom-Hearts-II] I Assassin's Creed Brotherhood [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.248762-JK-Reviews-Assassins-Creed-Brotherhood] I Top 12 Games of 2010 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.252471-JKs-Top-12-Best-Games-of-2010] I Bioshock [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.262110-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Bioshock] I Fallout: New Vegas [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.266849-JK-Reviews-Fallout-New-Vegas] I Silent Hill 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.270928-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Silent-Hill-2] I Dragon Age 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.276414-JK-Reviews-Dragon-Age-II] I Infamous2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.300006-JK-Reviews-InFAMOUS-2#comment_form] I Catherine [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.312121-JK-Reviews-Catherine] I Deus Ex: Human Revolution [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.314275-JK-Reviews-Deus-Ex-Human-Revolution] I Dark Souls [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.319053-JK-Reviews-Dark-Souls] I Batman: Arkham City [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.324411-JK-Reviews-Batman-Arkham-City] I Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.329980-JK-Reviews-Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-3]
Music:
Equilibrium's ReKreatur [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.204108-JK-Reviews-Equilibrium-ReKreatur] I Devin Townsend's Deconstruction & Ghost [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.307243-JK-Reviews-Devin-Townsend-Deconstruction-Ghost]
Remember, that I am now taking requests for reviews, so any suggestions for future reviews or lists you may have, please let me know via PM or in the replies to this review.
