Jason KingTHE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO: A Review by Big Geoff
January 20th 2012 21:11
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Special thanks to Cinefools.com for this review
Category: Reviews
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Review by Big Geoff
Another film I have missed so far but good friend Big Geoff from Cinefools.com attended this one and had a fresh look at it thanks to not reading the books. I can't wait to see it.
I want to start this review by making it clear that I have not read any of the Millennium Trilogy books so my only knowledge of the series has come from people talking about it and watching the first of the Swedish trilogy of films. So don't lynch me for not knowing enough about the characters or the books because in honesty I've never been interested in reading them. Also there is a very easy way I could approach this review which is to talk about the differences between the two and why one is better than the other. While I will talk about which I prefer really you don't need to know all the differences, and there are some (thank god), all you need to know is that on its own this is a great film.
I am a David Fincher fan, there's no other way of putting it. When I watched Fight Club for the first time it was like a cinematic awakening. I watched every inch of that DVD's release and Panic Room was the first film I can honestly remember being excited about for no reason other than the director being involved. Every film he has released since Fight Club I have been excited for though The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was the first that I felt may disappoint me. I guess it was because last year I felt so strongly against the remake of Let the Right One In and this had the potential to feel the same, a copy of a film that probably didn't need to be made. I am extremely pleased to say that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a deserved remake. Fincher's guidance allows the remake to become more than its predecessor.
Now I have to again stress I have not read the books so my only knowledge is watching both versions of the film. After watching the Swedish version of the film I couldn't help but feel that it was a Lisbeth Salander film and I almost felt like it was trying too much to make a cult hero out of the character Lisbeth Salander. Fincher's version focuses more on Mikael Blomkvist and the mystery he is trying to solve. This amended focus allows Fincher's strong points to really shine, making TGWTDT an incredibly gripping mystery/thriller. For Fincher fans wondering how the film is, this is more Se7en but with a hint of Social Network, and as strange as that combination sounds, far out it works well. Fincher makes an edgier and harder version, which is to be expected, and I actually think it works better for the film.
Aside from the directing which I could honestly gush about for hours I have to say that TGWTDT has some of the best casting, and in return, best performances I've seen in a thriller is such a long time. Daniel Craig shows his star potential away from all things James Bond as Blomkvist and a supporting cast of Robin Wright, Stellan Skarsgard and Christopher Plummer all give equally as impressive performances. But there is no doubt the superstar of the film is Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander. What Mara does differently from Noomi Rapace is actually bring a little more heart to Salander and I understand that she is meant to be a loner but there is more emotion to Mara's portrayal that makes her more endearing. Mara also delivers near faultless Swedish infused English to the point you'd swear that she was Swedish. If Mara doesn't get an Academy Award Nomination, and I know that is a big call, then there is something seriously wrong here. Fincher gets the best out of his actors and the film is so much better for it.
After watching the film and seeing just how good a film it is I am concerned by one thing. Are people going to wonder if it is a film worth remaking just as I did? To be honest I'm not sure. I think as its own film it is a great film, where it will really work is as a series and I hope Sony moves forward on getting the next two films made as soon as possible. If it is not a huge box office success then home video is where it will make some money as this is one hell of a thriller and I hope that people talk about it. Although some people may find elements of the film too hard, it's being advertised as the Feel Bad Movie of the Year so that'll give you an indication of the feel of the film, this is a film I really enjoyed and recommend. Fincher just does not fail to impress me. Worth a very positive 9 out of 10.
Another film I have missed so far but good friend Big Geoff from Cinefools.com attended this one and had a fresh look at it thanks to not reading the books. I can't wait to see it.
I want to start this review by making it clear that I have not read any of the Millennium Trilogy books so my only knowledge of the series has come from people talking about it and watching the first of the Swedish trilogy of films. So don't lynch me for not knowing enough about the characters or the books because in honesty I've never been interested in reading them. Also there is a very easy way I could approach this review which is to talk about the differences between the two and why one is better than the other. While I will talk about which I prefer really you don't need to know all the differences, and there are some (thank god), all you need to know is that on its own this is a great film.
I am a David Fincher fan, there's no other way of putting it. When I watched Fight Club for the first time it was like a cinematic awakening. I watched every inch of that DVD's release and Panic Room was the first film I can honestly remember being excited about for no reason other than the director being involved. Every film he has released since Fight Club I have been excited for though The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was the first that I felt may disappoint me. I guess it was because last year I felt so strongly against the remake of Let the Right One In and this had the potential to feel the same, a copy of a film that probably didn't need to be made. I am extremely pleased to say that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a deserved remake. Fincher's guidance allows the remake to become more than its predecessor.
Now I have to again stress I have not read the books so my only knowledge is watching both versions of the film. After watching the Swedish version of the film I couldn't help but feel that it was a Lisbeth Salander film and I almost felt like it was trying too much to make a cult hero out of the character Lisbeth Salander. Fincher's version focuses more on Mikael Blomkvist and the mystery he is trying to solve. This amended focus allows Fincher's strong points to really shine, making TGWTDT an incredibly gripping mystery/thriller. For Fincher fans wondering how the film is, this is more Se7en but with a hint of Social Network, and as strange as that combination sounds, far out it works well. Fincher makes an edgier and harder version, which is to be expected, and I actually think it works better for the film.
Aside from the directing which I could honestly gush about for hours I have to say that TGWTDT has some of the best casting, and in return, best performances I've seen in a thriller is such a long time. Daniel Craig shows his star potential away from all things James Bond as Blomkvist and a supporting cast of Robin Wright, Stellan Skarsgard and Christopher Plummer all give equally as impressive performances. But there is no doubt the superstar of the film is Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander. What Mara does differently from Noomi Rapace is actually bring a little more heart to Salander and I understand that she is meant to be a loner but there is more emotion to Mara's portrayal that makes her more endearing. Mara also delivers near faultless Swedish infused English to the point you'd swear that she was Swedish. If Mara doesn't get an Academy Award Nomination, and I know that is a big call, then there is something seriously wrong here. Fincher gets the best out of his actors and the film is so much better for it.
After watching the film and seeing just how good a film it is I am concerned by one thing. Are people going to wonder if it is a film worth remaking just as I did? To be honest I'm not sure. I think as its own film it is a great film, where it will really work is as a series and I hope Sony moves forward on getting the next two films made as soon as possible. If it is not a huge box office success then home video is where it will make some money as this is one hell of a thriller and I hope that people talk about it. Although some people may find elements of the film too hard, it's being advertised as the Feel Bad Movie of the Year so that'll give you an indication of the feel of the film, this is a film I really enjoyed and recommend. Fincher just does not fail to impress me. Worth a very positive 9 out of 10.
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