On Christmas Day The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was released nationwide, and despite being a best-selling book, the hard R movie finished 4th at the box office behind the Chipmunks (really America?), Sherlock Holmes 2, and the fantastic Mission Impossible 4. This movie has a lot going for it, with David Fincher (The Social Network) directing, Steve Zaillian an Oscar winner for Schindler's List, and starring Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace) among others. The first trailer is among the best in recent memory, and it's opening credits are even more impressive. So did the movie live up to the expectations created by the book, production crew, and early visuals?
In many ways no, but that's not to say it shouldn't be seen. The movie is ambitious if you think about it, the book in paperback is a tome, extremely graphic, and violent. The movie doesn't get too bogged down by the density of the source material though, and the nudity and violence all serves a purpose to the story, and that is a credit to Steve Zaillian's script. The veteran actors in the film, Craig, Christopher Plummer (Inside Man), and Stellan Skaarsgard (Thor), all do a fine job, but are all shown up by newish comer Rooney Mara (The Social Network). The girl who won the role of Lisbeth Salander has launched her career in a big way with this movie, as she dominated it from start to finish. She is as vindictive, vulnerable, and compelling as she is in the novel. Mara is able to balance the characters darkness and anger with the compassion she has beneath the surface, owning the role and vindicating David Fincher's choice of her as his star.
The film has a lot of potential awards nominations coming for it, ranging from best picture and director to best adapted screenplay and best score (Fincher commissioned Atticus Finch to score this film as well), but it will likely lose most of these other nominations. It's box office has been low and yet steadily churning out money, crossing $90 million over the weekend, and coupled with the fact there are more critically passionate movies like The Artist the chances are slim that it can earn a major award. That said, adapted screenplay, score, and hopefully best actress are all still very in play.
The movie is a solid 4 out of 5 in my mind, and is DEFINITELY one that should be seen in theaters, as it is darkly shot and just wouldn't be as good on dvd and certainly not edited for tv. It isn't as good as Fincher's last, but it another solid entry into his body of work.
Matt Brickell is a senior writer and was a late comer to the whole Dragon Tattoo craze.
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