Having read the popular novel (along with 65 million others) and having viewed the Swedish screen version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, I wasn’t sure what a new American film version could bring to the franchise.
My anticipation peaked as the title sequence kicked in, blazingly set to Trent Reznor’s cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song. Ah-ha, perhaps the American film is going to kick up the intensity? Nope. The spark provided by that opener developed into just a fizzle of a firework. I was about to watch another faithful adaptation of the novel.
Rooney Mara (above,left) creates the exact same essence that Noomi Rapa (above,right) did in the original film. They both make a convincing Lisbeth, the outlaw heroine of the series. Likewise, Daniel Craig is an even match for Sweden’s Michael Nyqvist.
This is a good thriller, but it’s hauntingly similar in look and storytelling to the Swedish film. David Fincher, the director of Fight Club, Seven, Zodiac, and The Social Network, should have raised the bar a bit.
Simply put: A convincing thriller to anyone who hasn’t met the Lisbeth Salander character yet; a two hour and 40 minute bore to anyone who’s seen the equally good Swedish film.
Award potential: Pundits are thinking nominations for film and actress. I’m thinking neither.
The ten buck review: Worth 2 bucks. Save your theater money and rent the Swedish film instead.
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