The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

8/10

Starring

Michael Nyqvist

Noomi Rapace

Directed by Niels Arden Oplev

There are noticeable changes between the book and the adaptations, but not that huge a change that it takes away the central plot to which both the book and this movie is based. I have to say watching this Swedish adaptation of the late Stieg Larsson book (of the same name) is one ride that I will not easily forget. The movie carries the same intrigue and the same depth in investigation that the book offers.

The acting in this movie is world class and the way things played out are something left best for you to see and enjoy. There some amazing direction of things in this movie that will make you appreciate the director Niels Arden Oplev, take. He took the movie’s dark theme and made it readily available to see without allowing the gruesomeness of the entire situation runaway with this investigative crime thriller – add to that, some beautiful Swedish scenery.

This is the first movie in the series and also serves as an introduction of the both leads. It sets the background to which both developed into who they are and also how they both met and shaped a relationship.

The movie starts with Mikal (Michael Nyqvist) losing a libel case – he is sentenced to pay a fine and serve some time in jail. His problem did not end there as the billionaire he lost the case too went further to slander his name and drag his personal life into the papers.

On the other side of things, we have Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace) a socially awkward lady we can see straight off has a dark past. She was sent to investigate Mikal by a lawyer an investigation that made us understand that Mikal was actually set up.

Lisbeth because of her troubled childhood and has a legal guardian watching over. His job is to monitor and access her for the time he sees fit before he writes the state that she is now mentally capable of being on her own. Her old guardian fell ill and a new one was sent to her, who wanted to take advantage of the situation to control her, Lisbeth handled his problem.

Later on, we see Mikal hired by a wealthy man to investigate the disappearance/murder of his ward Harriet. Mikal started to investigate and when he asked for help, he was sent Lisbeth. The two began to investigate Harriet’s murder and that led them down the path of numerous murders of other girls all over the country. From the 1940s to the time of Harriet’s disappearance.

The two felt they could handle how deep things went and the complexity of their predicament, but as we watch we too are dragged down the path as things are never what there seem.

The movie was a huge financial success. The movie also got positive reviews from critics and it was followed by the adaptation of the other two books written by Larsson. When you get to see this movie, which is a total three hours long, it is set in two parts. I believe it was released as a six-part miniseries in some countries.

The second movie The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009) was also a good followup to this movie.

It got numerous awards and nominations including a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language.