The video above is sort of a watered down version of the opening credits for the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and it's a pitch perfect way to prepare the audience for just what kind of twisted, dark, and sick journey they're about to take.
Very briefly, I'll explain the plot of this movie and the first book in the series for those who know nothing about it. Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is an investigative journalist in Sweden who is in trouble for writing an article without the proper evidence to back up his claims. He's been sued and he's lost. This is when a mysterious offer comes in from one of the richest men in Sweden, Henrik Vanger, who wants Blomkvist to investigate the events surrounding the disappearance of his niece, Harriet over 30 years ago who he believes was murdered by one of his family members. At first, Blomkvist baulks but eventually is drawn into the case and the fascinating world of characters involved with the missing girl. He brings in Lisbeth Salander as an assistant who is the eponymous girl of the title. Lisbeth is an extremely mysterious but damaged woman who just may be a genius and the key to figuring out what happened to Harriet Vanger.
With that being said, I've read the Millennium series and I'm a huge fan of the material and even most of the Swedish films that have been based on the books (what can I say? Wasn't a fan of the second flick). The stories are interesting, diverse, thought-provoking and challenging all at once. And the relationship between the two main characters, Lisbeth and Mikael, is one of constant evolution and mutual respect. Hell, I remember feeling a bit of culture shock just from reading the first book since the series takes place in Sweden and even though I firmly believe we're all inherently the same, it's the details that diversify us and blur the line between what is normal and what is not?
And yes, eventually we get into Lisbeth's past and why she's under guardianship. But that's in the next installments!
Having expressed my love for Stieg Larsson's work, I have to say that when I heard there would be an U.S. version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo the cold steel feeling of trepidation crept in on me almost all at once. The question had to be asked: Why? The Swedish version of the film was fine and wasn't going anywhere, so why do it? Well of course the answer was plainly obvious: MONEY.
So then David Fincher was attached and everyone got excited. Except I still wasn't. Fincher was coming off of his highly acclaimed Social Network, and for all intents and purposes, the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was sort of a return to his natural form (Seven, Panic Room, Fight Club, etc.). Most would view that as a slam dunk, but I was sure this meant that he was bound to phone the movie in. And with a story that contains everything from child molestation to rape, torture, murder, and MORE rape whilst taking place in Sweden one had to be concerned with the Hollywood attitude of dumbing everything down. Was there any way possible that an American studio would make a true-to-the-book version without watering down anything and give us the hardcore R-rating without any strings attached?
Because I assure you, walking into the theater I just KNEW there were certain scenes bound to be cut. I KNEW some Hollywood asshat in production would believe that the American public couldn't handle a piece or two of a couple scenes. And to the asshat's credit, even a watered down version of the book would be an extremely tough sell to middle America.
Well, how was the movie?
Phenomenal movie. Not only did Fincher make a MORE true-to-the-book version but he didn't skip a beat and phone anything in. Everything was in place and as hardcore and/or ugly as it should have been. He didn't try to sugarcoat anything and honored the story and characters with all their warts and various sociopathic tendencies.
I'm actually sort of shocked. Because this really shouldn't have happened. Some big executive should have seen a rough-cut of the film and blown a gasket, fired Fincher mid-production and hired some no-name to piece everything together in a nice, safe, PG-13 style more besetting of Hollywood's pattern of practice. Maybe Fincher was just really sneaky and got around showing it to the studio before it was too late?
I jest, but seriously, it's truly remarkable that this movie is out in theater's. It's sort of a miracle really.
Annnnnd now I get to tell you all to go and see it! Support this kind of cinema! Original, unique, interesting material that isn't spoon-fed to you like so many "love will always endure" Kate Hudson crapfests or the seemingly neverending romantic-comedies jam-packed with every celebrity known to man like New Year's Eve.
Trust me, go and see this movie, it's good. How else are we going to get the sequels if we don't give 'em some money?
| DO IT NOW - Or the dog get's it! |
I know there is a lot of emphasis that has been placed on the dark aspects of this story, but at it's heart it's about truth and justice. It's about the subversive underlining of too many culture's (including our own) turning a blind eye to harm done to woman by all manner of beasts. It's about friendship, trust, and growth. It's about doing the right thing because it should be done.
9 / 10
No comments:
Post a Comment