‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ Movie Review

As small as a sparrow but as fierce as an eagle, Lisbeth Salander kicks ass and takes names in David Fincher’s 2011 adaptation of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” The film is based on the first of three books in Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” trilogy. The story embodies the idea of feminism with a twist of badassedness, which is exemplified in Lisbeth’s character, played by Rooney Mara. She is a powerhouse of extreme knowledge (hacking into computers is her specialty), ruthless confidence in her abilities, and cutthroat motivation. Coming from a less than perfect background, which is further detailed in subsequent episodes, the audience can’t help but root for her in this thrilling, and certainly heart-pumping, film.

Lisbeth, A Seductive Mystery

Lisbeth’s callous shell is also accompanied by a vulnerable sensibility, only somewhat understandable to the short list of people she lets into her life, which Mara plays beautifully. The severe black bangs across her snow-white forehead are as sharp as a blade, but her eyebrows are as soft and pale as a child’s. She’s clad in all black, motorcycle boots included, except for when she’s rolling around in the sheets with journalist Mikael Blomkvist, played by Daniel Craig.  Lisbeth instills fear as well as awe; a mysterious specimen whom the audience craves more from.

Books & Soundtrack Align Well

In his adaptation, Fincher and screenwriter Steven Zaillian manage to capture the vivid essence of the book and don’t stray too far from the original plot, although there are a few notable changes. While the first read can be somewhat busy, the film version tries to break it down in bite-size pieces. The very beginning is sluggish like the book, but it begins to pick up about an hour into it. The harsh and spooky soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross supplements the already ominous story, linking the aura of political danger and moral desolation.

A Deeply Dark Plot

Blomkvist, with a hot case of libel on his coattails, is hired by a wealthy industrialist named Henrik Vanger, played by Christopher Plummer. The journalist’s assignment is to uncover the details of a decades-old mystery, but the Vanger family sees to it that his task is not so easy. Blomkvist finds out a short time later that the Vanger family tree includes Nazis, rapists, murderers, and alcoholics: basically a recipe for disaster.

Conjures Profound Uneasiness = Success

While the Vangers are monstrous enough, Salander happens upon quite a monster herself. Deemed incompetent and dangerous at a young age, Salander spent most of her childhood contained in mental hospitals. Once released, she finds herself with a less than competent legal guardian, Nils Bjurman, played by Yorick van Wageningen. In the rawest scene, Bjurman violently rapes Salander, but the action certainly does not go unreturned. We eventually see all of Ms. Mara and most of Mr. Craig in a much more consensual scene, as the pair gets caught up in a confusing and passionate relationship.
As the concluding scene begins to fade and the credits start to roll, we are left with troubling thoughts about the curiously magnetic Salander. The chaotic, cynical world in which she lives certainly molded her, but she’s far from feeling at home in it. If you aren't able to see this cinematic adventure in theaters, be sure to grab a blank DVD to burn it on and throw a dark movie party in your own home theater.

Kristy Kravitsky graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in English.

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