The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo

Welcome to another episode of The "D" List.

Today's review is The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo. Directed by Niels Arden Oplev. Written by Nikolaj Arcel & Rasmus Heisterberg. Based on the novel by the same name written by Stieg Larsson.

MPAA Rating NR for language, strong brutal violence, strong sexual content, including rape.

Cast

Michael Nyqvist -Mikael Blomkvist

Noomi Rapace - Lisbeth Salander

Lena Endre - Erika Berger

Peter Haber - Martin Vanger

Sven-Bertil Taube - Henrik Vanger

Peter Andersson     - The Lawyer Nils Bjurman

Ingvar Hirdwall - Dirch Frode

Marika Lagercrantz - Cecilia Vanger

Björn Granath - Gustav Morell

Ewa Fröling - Harriet Vanger


Before I continued my effort to rot my brain out with the upcoming summer blockbusters, I was able to catch this film at a regional theater. After hearing some positive buzz about it I figured why not. Let's get some culture and see a foreign thriller. GREAT SCOTT!!!!!!!!!! I didn't leave the theater cultured. I left disturbed and disappointed at what could have been.

Well known journalist Mikael Blomkvist has been found guilty of a crime and is awaiting his jail time to start. In the meantime he's approached by Martin Vanger a wealthy man, part of a very powerful Vanger family. He wants Mikael to investigate the very long and unsolved disappearance of his granddaughter Harriet. Mikael takes the case and enlists the help of well known convicted computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. Mikael and Lisbeth work to find out what happened to Harriet. What they uncover is a tangled web of circumstances that they never bargained for.

Here's what's wrong with this film. It's the brutality. This film is based on the Millennium trilogy of books written by the now deceased Stieg Larsson. The books have been national best sellers and they are supposedly just as graphic. Having said that, the violence, depictions of violence and the sexual content in this film is too over the top and gives the theme of the film a cartoony feel. It's commonplace in cinema to allow violence and or sex to drive a story but they have to be crafted and structured around the story well enough to serve the narrative. Otherwise you're just watching a snuff film.

It's unfortunate because at it's core, the film's story was engaging, mysterious and thrilling. They just overpowered you with too much of the elements that made the story engaging, mysterious and thrilling. The films run time doesn't help it's cause either. At a shade over two and a half hours you may experience some butt numbness.

Despite it's overabundance of brutality and draggy pace, there is a bright spot and that's the performance of Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth. This is one bad ass chick that is NOT TO BE MESSED WITH!!! You are introduced right away to her tortured soul and she uses that to empower her against all of her inner and outer demons. Rapace establishes a unique quality of love and fear. You love her for her strength and fear her for her strength. Top notch work. Sadly it's not enough to save this one.

On the 5 star scale. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo gets 2 stars with a "Save The Loot" recommendation.

A hollywood remake is already planned with reportedly David Fincher tapped to direct from a screenplay written by Steve Zaillian. This gives me some positive vibes off the bat until the lead of Mikael was cast. Brad Pitt.......UGH!!!!!!!!! I know that Fincher and Pitt were great together in Fight Club but that was over a decade ago and I just can't see Pitt as Mikael. Doubts aside, I have faith in Zaillian's script and Fincher's ability to get the balance right between the drama and the disturbing. Only time will tell.

That's all for today. Up next is Robin Hood. Ridley Scott's HORRIBLE!!!!! rendition of the legendary character.

Until Next Episode......"I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"