Ryan McNeil
In the grand scheme of things, it’s a strange title. Sure she has some wild artwork on her skin, but the overall story is about so much more than just a Sweedish riot grrrl. However, as the story unfolds it becomes perfectly clear. You might have heard a dark mystery like this before, but it’s unlikely you’ve ever met someone like Lisbeth Salander in your life.
Our story begins with Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist). He’s a journalist for a national Swedish magazine, and has seemingly falsely accused an industrialist of being a gun runner. He claims he’s being set-up, and that he’s telling the truth. unfortunately, he’s found guilty of libel and will have to report to prison in a few weeks to serve a three month sentence. Before he begins his sentence, he’s hired for some independent investigation.
Henrik Vanger (Peter Haber) is the head of a powerful and wealthy dynasty. Thirty-seven years ago, his great-niece disappeared, but strangely somebody still sends him dried flowers every year on his birthday – a custom his great niece once kept. Vanger is convinced she is dead, and that her killer does it to mock him. He wants Blomkvist to get to the bottom of things once and for all.
Blomkvist’s investigation stalls until he is a approached by an unlikely source – Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace). She’s a hacker, a private investigator, and a young woman who seems to attract the worst kinds of problems. She reaches out to Blomkvist almost in a mocking way, but soon enough finds herself offering her help in this stone cold case.
This is a very chilling movie that works so well thanks to its construct. For starters, it’s in no hurry so it has no problem exposing us to lengthy exposition. That said, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that some moments of the exposition involving a sexual assault are rather difficult to endure. Once we get past that though, the story elevates itself in the way it begins as two rather unrelated stories, and then unsuspectingly overlaps. However, even with more manpower on the case, this mystery isn’t getting solved any faster than it wants to be. The secret in this family tree is buried very deep amongst the roots, so its only fitting that it will take a lot of digging to unearth the lies.
Thankfully, we care a lot about who is doing the digging. Mikael and Lisbeth have a wonderful delicate chemistry, and a knack for uncovering the truth…like a middle aged Hardy Boy and a suicide girl Nancy Drew. Mikael can barely contain his desire to prove his worth. As a journalist, he has lost what’s most valuable – his reputation. He can’t avoid prison, but a sucessful quest for the truth might give him the fortitude he’ll need to endure such a smear on his character.
Lisbeth on the other hand is a woman impossible to get a handle on. At a glance, you can tell that she isn’t looking for company or conversation. This, in a way, makes her so good at what she does. She is able to detach emotion, and use all means – legal and illegal alike to get to the bottom of things. Rapace plays her as a complete enigma; she’s as calculating as a scorpion, and stone cold in public, but fragile when she’s all alone. It takes a deep emotional detachment to do what Lisbeth does, and Rapace never falters on selling that detachment.
While some might find this movie emotionally cold, I was haunted by its disturbing mystery and don’t think I’ll be able to get it out of my head anytime soon. Even if I do lose the details of the plot, there is no way I could forget a character like Lisbeth Salander. I’m grateful for the long running time of this movie, if for no other reason than the time it gives me to better understand her. Not that I’m any closer to understanding her mind you.
Glad you enjoyed it and finally got to see it, I’m liking how the tables have turned and I am seeing movies before you. It is interesting to hear the thoughts of someone who hasn’t read the book. Knowing what was coming lessened the shock of certain parts of the movie that some viewers have been upset and/or offended by. When I saw it about six weeks ago it was the best movie I had seen to that point this year, it has since been surpassed by Kick-Ass but is still firmly at number two. This is what I thought about it at the time.
I totally loved this movie, even though parts of it were indeed very hard to watch. I can't say enough good things about Noomi Rapace's performance.
I read one review that said it was possible Lisbeth had Asperger's Syndrome or some other form of mild autism. Your thoughts? The movie hasn't hit theaters near me yet.
@ Univarn… See it in a theatre. See it when you are forced to give it your full attention, not distracted by the phone, the friedge, the net, etc.
It'll play better when you can drown in it rather than stand admiring it from the shore. And definitely see it before Hollywood and David Fincher remake it.
@ Andy… Soak it up, summer is coming and I'll get back ahead of the curve in a hurry. I do fully intend to read the book (sidebar: an entire book club took up the rest of my row), but will wait for the summer when my 'to read' stack is a little lower.
Off to read your post!
@ Norma… Indeed, I really can't wait to see more of her in something! Might have to start diggin' through her resume.
@ M. Carter… Congratulations, your question actually made me rack my brain a little. definitely not autistic. Aspergers would explain more than a few things, but its inconclusive at best.
What further clouds things is the fact that her demeanour is referred to as "Aspergers-like" in the novel, but that might be one of the characterizations that didn't quite make the jump to the screen.
So I guess what I'm saying is that it's possible…but I can't say for sure…
Lisbeth is kind of my hero, so as always, great review.
I've been pretty lazy on this series. At this time even the sequel has come out on DVD where I live and yet I haven't bothered to even check out the first one.
Yet another positive review is pushing me towards finally discovering it.
one of the few movies ive ever seen to make someone on their computer look exciting
along with Sneakers, of course
@ Simon… Interesting thought. Mind if I ask why she's your hero?
@ Edgar… Jump on it. I was getting antsy with how long it took this film to hit screens here in Toronto. Now that I know the sequel is already out abroad I feel that antsiness creeping back in!
@ Ross… heh…it's been a while since we've seen that sort of furious hacking, hasn't it? And I think this might be the first time we see it happen from Mac to Mac!
I really enjoyed this film, and in some similar ways to it seems. I had no problem with the long running time because the characters were so fascinating. Granted, the character of Mikael is somewhat of a stock figure, but when combined with the wholly unique presence of Lisbeth, their interplay becomes something really special.
I agree that the early sexual assault scenes were beyond repulsive, and because the film had no rating, I had no idea what type of violence to expect. I'm glad they were over soon enough.
Hopefully the next two installments will make their way to the U.S. sometime soon.
Just to be that guy, first I bring some news:
"I read one review that said it was possible Lisbeth had Asperger's Syndrome or some other form of mild autism."
This is actually touched on in the second book.
"Hopefully the next two installments will make their way to the U.S. sometime soon."
Number two hits theaters stateside (and perhaps in Canadia) on July 2.
"In the grand scheme of things, it's a strange title."
It was changed for the book for the US release. The Swedish title of the first book is "Men Who Hate Women." A much more fitting title, but I can see why they changed it considering the usual titling patterns of novels and considering the actual titles of the latter two books. It's all catchy and shit, even if mostly irrelevant. By the way, if you haven't yet, check out the teaser trailer for this that's pretty damn reminiscent of the Fight Club opening credits – it's pretty damn sweet.
I've already discussed this with the Hat, but I was disappointed (as most readers of the book are) with this, as I was unable to separate one from the other effectively. I'll still watch the second (and third) flicks, but my expectations will surely be tempered.
I thought this movie was okay until the very last shot when Lisbeth steps from her limousine to reveal her million-dollar makeover. Are the filmmakers suggesting that her goth look was merely an emblem of her inability to deal in a healthy way with all the abuse she’d suffered? If so, then the ‘normalization’ of her appearance is equated with the idea of a healed psyche – a notion as superficial and paternalistic as just about everything Lisbeth despises.
Or is it simply that the filmmakers think that all women harbor a latent French Riviera fantasy that only economic hardship prevents them from realizing? Because there’s nothing in her character AT ALL that even hints that Lisbeth in particular covets Gucci and Manolo.
Had the film ended instead with the more ambiguous black-and-white surveillance photo, Lisbeth’s changed appearance would have made more practical sense as a disguise. But no – she embraces her ‘disguise’ as an actual lifestyle choice. After taking such pains to craft one of the most intriguing and complex female characters in recent cinema, the filmmakers reduce her to Kathleen Turner at the end of BODY HEAT. To my mind, this is just as offensive a rape of her character as the one we’re forced to watch earlier in the film.
Let me put it another way: Do you think she had the dragon tattoo removed, too?
Kevin – I'm afraid it's none of the above. It's just another example of what all was cut from the book to make the movie a manageable length. It's just a disguise – an alter ego is a more apt description – that Salander uses at the end of the book and into the second one. But trust me, she remains as true to her own self as possible.
Fletch, thank you for the clarification. That makes a world of difference!