The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

aka "Män som hatar kvinnor" - Sweden

Released April 16, 2010
Directed by Niels Arden Oplev
Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre, Peter Haber

First viewing April 17, 2010
Jolly: 4.5/5 stars

I saw this movie not knowing anything about it. Not the plot, or the fact that it was based on a bestselling book series by Stieg Larsson, or the fact that it was a Swedish film with subtitles. I just wanted to watch a movie. Well, my ignorance truly turned to bliss on this occasion.

It was as though this was a movie that I always wanted to see yet didn’t know could exist. I sat there, watching the intricate and clever plot unfold before my eyes. The cinematography and acting was brilliant yet seamless. There were no boundaries between the story telling and production – this is a masterpiece of a movie.

We are introduced to Mikael Blomkvist (Nyqvist), a journalist who loses a libel case after reporting on the corruption of a Swedish industrialist. We are then introduced to Lisbeth Salander (Rapace) as a researcher hired by a representative of Henrik Vanger of the Vanger group to prove that Blomkvist’s report on corruption was true. Blomkvist is then approached by this representative to take on a special project. Blomkvist travels to see Mr. Vanger on his remote island, and learns that Mr. Vanger wants to hire him to solve the mystery of his niece Harriet’s murder over forty years ago. As Blomkvist begins his research we learn that Lisbeth Salander is a computer hacker and hacked into many systems, including Blomkvist’s computer, as part of her research assignment for the Vanger group. Lisbeth continues to spy on Blomkvist and is intrigued by his activity for the Vanger group. When she puts together clues and emails them to Blomkvist, he tracks her down and they team up to solve the mystery.

Lisbeth Salander is a complex character. She has a troubled past that we only get glimpses of in this movie and I can’t wait to get more of the story in the second installment. Her involvement in the murder mystery adds depth, but the suspense that builds as more clues are revealed is what keeps you glued to the screen.

If I had to use one word to describe this movie it would be “raw”. If you’re looking for fluff you won’t find it here. The emotions are always on the surface but not in a Hollywood in-your-face kind of way. Indeed, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was an unexpected but much appreciated breath of fresh air among modern-day movies.