The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Directed by: David Fincher

Written by: Steven Zaillian

Plot:

Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker.

Review:

I declare The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo the best film of the year. David Fincher has done it again, created pure gold. It was hard to imagine this book being made into a movie, again, after the success of the previously adapted film series but Fincher knew what he was doing and it all started with the casting of the main character Lisbeth Salander, Rooney Mara.

Lisbeth is a socially awkward, computer hacking, rape victim that brings a powerful punch whenever she is on the screen. If you have read the books then you know to expect some graphic scenes with Lisbeth and Fincher was not afraid to show these scenes. In fact, these scenes locked Rooney Mara for an best actress nomination, maybe even a win. Daniel Craig was great as well, but was on the back burner compared to Mara.

The film stayed very to the books storyline and was a close adaptation. It being a lengthy book, it was a long movie at 157 minutes and got to include everything, including the long ending. It all leads into the second novel but it was a 20 minute ending that could have been wrapped up quicker.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a thriller at its best. With a terrific mystery to solve, heart pumping suspense and great chemistry and acting from Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, it is not a film to miss. I really hope and would not be surprised if this is a hit, which could mean we can get the other two installments. If this happens, Fincher must direct it otherwise I would prefer no movie. As great as Mara was and her power to control the movie, nobody would be able to keep the same tone and direction Fincher just created.

Rating: 9.5/10