The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker.

Director:

David Fincher

Writers:

Steven Zaillian (screenplay), Stieg Larsson (novel)

Stars:

Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer

Won 1 Oscar. Another 14 wins & 33 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Craig	...	Mikael Blomkvist
Rooney Mara	...	Lisbeth Salander
Christopher Plummer	...	Henrik Vanger
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Martin Vanger
Steven Berkoff	...	Dirch Frode
Robin Wright	...	Erika Berger
Yorick van Wageningen	...	Nils Bjurman
Joely Richardson	...	Anita Vanger
Geraldine James	...	Cecilia Vanger
Goran Visnjic	...	Dragan Armansky
Donald Sumpter	...	Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell
Ulf Friberg	...	Hans-Erik Wennerström
Bengt C.W. Carlsson	...	Holger Palmgren
Tony Way	...	Plague
Per Myrberg	...	Harald Vanger

Storyline

This English-language adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson follows a disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), as he investigates the disappearance of a wealthy patriarch's niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.

---

Plot Keywords:

journalist | disappearance | background check | computer hacker | research | 

---

Taglines:

What is hidden in snow, comes forth in the thaw.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Sweden Norway

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

La chica del dragón tatuado

Filming Locations:

Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, Ullensaker, Akershus, Norway

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$12,750,000 (USA) (23 December 2011)

Gross:

$102,515,793 (USA) (16 March 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Scott Rudin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

158 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many Swedish critics questioned the choice to have many of the characters talk in "Swedish-accent". Most criticism was pointed to Mara's accent that many critics heard as Russian or Dutch and not Swedish at all. Daniel Craig admitted in an interview that he thought this was stupid and therefore used his real voice.

---

Goofs

Stockholm has two types of subway trains in use, the old original trains and the new trains. In one clip Lisbeth is sitting in a train with the old interior, i.e. an old train. The next clip shows the train from outside (meeting another train at Slussen), but both trains are new, not old.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell: What kind is it?
Henrik Vanger: I don't know. White?
Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell: And the frame?
Henrik Vanger: Dark.
Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell: Postmark?
Henrik Vanger: Same as last time.
Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell: And no note.
Henrik Vanger: No.
Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell: I'm so sorry, Henrik.

---

Crazy Credits

At the beginning of the film's opening studio intros of Columbia and MGM, Leo, the MGM mascot's roar is silenced.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Vanger Archives (2012)

---

Soundtracks

"Äppelöga"
Written By Christopher Sander
And Alf Håkan Åkesson
Performed By Anna Järvinen
Courtesy Of Häpna

User Reviews

Despite claims to the contrary, a necessary re-interpretation of the story

After the announcement that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was getting an English-language film treatment, I decided that the hype had built up to a point where I just had to read the source material for myself. Though it is not without flaws, Dragon Tattoo is an excellent story with the important mission of raising awareness concerning violence against women. Mere days after finishing the book I watched the Swedish film. The hype train had me excited for an outstanding thriller.

The hype train let me down.

I was left cold and somewhat irritated by the Swedish adaptation. A ton of important plot elements were left out, some were inexplicably added (Blomkvist's memories of the island became far too important and contrived), and Rapace felt all wrong as Lisbeth. She was brilliant and violent, but lacked the quiet pensiveness of the original character. She did not come off as autistic and emotionally disturbed, just bratty and rude. Worst of all, I was constantly confused by the extremely rushed, strange new take on the story.

As a lover of foreign films, I normally grind my teeth when I hear that America is developing a remake. However, I found myself desperate for this one. I needed a movie that actually gave me the experience of reading the book for the first time, that made me care for Lisbeth and that truly disturbed me. Thankfully, the American adaptation (not a remake) delivered exactly what I was looking for. Those who say this version is unnecessary or a rehash must have seen a very different Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo than I saw. The American take is jam-packed with scenes that were either skimmed or completely left out of the Swedish version. Yet, despite being more robust, the English- language Dragon Tattoo is incredibly paced, feeling less rushed yet hitting all the important plot points. The characters have time to develop and grow on you, the clue-finding makes more sense, and the killer is more horrifying. Screenwriter Zaillian knows exactly what to leave out and what to change (though the ending, which mirrors the book's ending, could have been arranged better). Craig, Mara, and even Plummer are spot-on in their roles and feel more fleshed-out as characters. Mara, in particular, inhabits Larsson's Lisbeth in a way Rapace did not. She captures Lisbeth's silent, borderline-autistic nature perfectly. Her fragile body and alien appearance even match the book's description. She allows herself to be vulnerable, but clearly regrets it over time. It's a captivating performance.

If someone were to ask me, personally, which version to see, I would have to say without hesitation that this is the rare occasion where the American adaptation is superior. I did not think it was possible to stay so true to the story under three hours.