I’m not normally someone who likes an US remake of a foreign film, I’m also believe that if ‘something ain’t broke don’t try to fix it’. And considering how much I loved the Danish version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo I was pretty sure I would be disappointed by the U.S. remake. But boy-oh-boy did Mr. Fincher make me eat my words. About the time that Fincher’s version of the title credits kicked in, like a blow to the head thanks to Trent Reznor’s kicking film score, I knew that despite it being a remake it was going to be something really special.
For those who haven’t seen the original film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is based on the hit series of novels from author Stig Larsson. It picks up with renowned journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig – The Adventures Of Tintin, Cowboys & Aliens) having just been successfully sued after he made unfounded accusations against a leading business man. In a bid to lie low Blomkvist takes a job offered to him by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer – Priest, Beginners) a retired businessman who believes that one of his family members is responsible for the murder of his grand-daughter almost 40 years earlier. Blomkvist is joined on the case by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara – The Social Network, A Nightmare On Elm Street) a young computer hacker with personal problems of her own.
Director, David Fincher (The Social Network, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) provided to be the right person for the job when it came to being at the helm of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Fincher goes back to his previous work of films like Zodiac and Se7en and brings a real morbid and dark feel to the feel. He handles the suspense really well and while at times the original film felt cluttered (because of the amount of characters) Fincher never allows his version to follow suite.
To his credit he never actually allows the audience to become confused at all. The original became a little confusing and bogged down when Lisbeth is investigating the murders of the other girls but Fincher sets it out for all to see in a clear and basic way. And I know that I have already mentioned it but the opening credits are an absolute standout and something that Fincher and Reznor deserve to be credited for.
The person who was likely to cop the most criticism for this film was Rooney Mara. With Noomi Rapace doing such a fine job in the role of Lisbeth Salander in the original you just knew that poor Mara was always going to be compared to her. And while I mean no disrespect to Rapace some aspects of Mara’s Salander are actually better, she certainly portrays the socially awkward parts of Salander’s character a lot better… and she is helped with some great one liners. Together with Daniel Craig, Mara has some genuine chemistry and despite many who feared it (including Craig himself) you never ever feel like you are watching a Bond film just because he is it.
The Danish version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was a masterpiece and I have to admit that the U.S. remake matches that. Some of the scenes will be confronting for some but this has to be one of the best thrillers ever made.
Year: 2011
Director: David Fincher
Stars: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer
Classification: MA15+
Runtime: 158 mins
Rating: 
Out on DVD/Blu-Ray 23rd May 2012