This is the third straight week that I’ve been recommending The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I’ve gotten some initial resistance, primarily from women who have read the Stieg Larsson novel; one of those women went to the movie anyway and loved it. Here’s why you should see it before it leaves the theaters.
First, the movie is centered on Lisbeth Salander, the best new crime drama character since Helen Mirren’s Inspector Jane Tennyson. And Noomi Rapace creates a Lisbeth Salander who is a lethal mix of damage and drive. Noomi Rapace’s Lisbeth, as a tiny fury of a Goth hacker, is only 90 pounds, so she will lose a fistfight with a man; but she prevails with her smarts, resourcefulness and machine-like relentlessness. Lisbeth is always mad AND always gets even.
Second, the Scandinavians have already made all three movies for the Stieg Larsson trilogy. They’re all in the can with the same stars. Movie #2 is The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, which has already been released in Scandinavia and is in wider European release now. Movie #3 is The Girl Who Played With Fire, to be released in Scandinavia in September. American Stieg Larsson fans will be will be able to see all three movies soon, in theaters or on Netflix.
Third, Hollywood is going to remake this movie. I doubt that Hollywood is going to remake the whole trilogy, so this may be your only chance to see the trilogy. There are rumors about casting George Clooney or Brad Pitt, so male lead will likely be enhanced at the expense of the story. The movie will likely be dumbed down to make Lisbeth more of a stylized action hero . And, of course, Hollywood is not going to cast Noomi Rapace in the lead, so you would miss the film’s essential performance.