Written by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg based on the first in Stieg Larsson's hugely popular trilogy, Niels Arden Oplev's directorial debut film is unimpressive despite strong performances and unique characters (and, yes, it is confusing that the Oplev is Danish when the movie is Swedish). Michael Nyqvist (2002) plays successful political journalist Mikael Blomkvist convicted of crimes he didn't commit solving a thrilling case connected to his childhood before going to jail. The mystery (of a disappearing teenager) has been unsolved for forty years, but Blomkvist thinks he may be able to catch the villain with the help of a mysterious young detective (Noomi Rapace) with a tough attitude, a billion piercings, and a genius-intellect.
All the actors do an excellent job (though it would be difficult to mess up such captivating characters): Nyqvist (who should be in some
Being overrated would not be such a terrible thing if not for the ludicrous sex. And when I speak of the sex, I am not even talking about the explicit rape scenes (which along with graphic violence and harsh language make this a very intense show). My problem with the sex is an unnecessary extended scene of two people getting busy which serves no purpose save admiring Rapace’s body. It is not only an interruption of the plot, it is abandoning artistic qualities to exploit rather then impress the audience. When a movie called The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo shows more of said girl’s breasts than the title tattoo, there is a problem.
Dragon Tattoo runs more like an R-rated cable-TV mystery and less like the work of art it claims to be.
P.S. Probably hitting theaters in 2012, an American adaption of the book will tell the story with Daniel Craig as Blomkvist.
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