The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009)

Lisbeth is recovering in a hospital and awaiting trial for three murders when she is released. Mikael must prove her innocence, but Lisbeth must be willing to share the details of her sordid experiences with the court.

Director:

Daniel Alfredson

Writers:

Jonas Frykberg, Stieg Larsson (novel)

Stars:

Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Nyqvist	...	Mikael Blomkvist
Noomi Rapace	...	Lisbeth Salander
Lena Endre	...	Erika Berger
Annika Hallin	...	Annika Giannini
Jacob Ericksson	...	Christer Malm
Sofia Ledarp	...	Malin Erikson
Anders Ahlbom Rosendahl	...	Dr. Peter Teleborian
Micke Spreitz	...	Ronald Niederman (as Mikael Spreitz)
Georgi Staykov	...	Alexander Zalachenko
Mirja Turestedt	...	Monica Figuerola
Niklas Falk	...	Edklinth
Hans Alfredson	...	Evert Gullberg
Lennart Hjulström	...	Fredrik Clinton
Jan Holmquist	...	Hallberg
Niklas Hjulström	...	Ekström

Storyline

Salander is under close supervision in a hospital and is set to face trial for attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must prove her innocence. In doing this she plays against powerful enemies and her own past.

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Plot Keywords:

confinement | strong female | rape victim | rape | heroine | 

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Taglines:

Get ready for the final sting in the tale.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, some sexual material, and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Six months prior to filming, Noomi Rapace started training, learning all sorts of different boxing techniques. This wasn't because these skills would be showcased in the films but to make her body more masculine or androgynous in its appearance. (Although Lisbeth Salander is attracted to both men and women, she never appears truly comfortable in her own skin.) Rapace also worked with a dietitian to help make her as skinny as possible. She also had multiple piercings and learned how to ride a motorbike, earning her license just as filming commenced.

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Goofs

When Lisbeth is in the operating room, the bullet is removed from the left side of her brain, as depicted by the frontal view X-ray that is hung on the X-ray view box, which shows the bullet on the left side of her head (viewer's right side). After her surgery, the operative side of Lisbeth's head (as demonstrated by the dressing and her shaved head) is the right side.

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Connections

Referenced in Max Pinlig 2 - sidste skrig (2011)

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Soundtracks

Turn It Up Loud
Written by Phil Buckle
© Universal Publishing Production Music

User Reviews

Ignore the critics, the movie rocks!

'THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

The third part in the wildly popular Swedish crime series the 'Millennium Trilogy' (following 'THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO' and 'THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE', both released earlier this year in America and last year in Sweden and other parts of the world.) based on the successful books by the late Stieg Larson (who died in 2004 before the first book was published in 2005). The films are so successful that they're already being remade in America, the first of which is to be directed by David Fincher and star Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig. This final chapter is adapted by Ulf Ryberg and directed by Daniel Alfredson, who also directed the second installment (the original was directed by Niels Arden Oplev). The title has been changed from it's original Swedish title of 'The Air Castle That Blew Up' for American audiences, like the original's title was changed from 'Men Who Hate Women'. The film once again stars the beautiful and stunning Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander (the title role) and Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist.

As the movie opens Lisbeth is being taken to a hospital for urgent care due to being shot multiple times, including a head shot, by her father at the climax of the second film. The police are awaiting her recovery so they can arrest her and charge her with the attempted murder of her father, who she struck in the head with an ax in self defense. Her freakish, abnormally strong half brother (once again played by Micke Spreitz) is also waiting to finish the job he and his father started of killing Lisbeth. It's up to her journalist friend Mikael and his Millennium magazine co-workers to clear her name and bring the conspirators against her to justice. The people out to silence Lisbeth are very powerful though and Mikael and his team soon find themselves in grave danger as well.

The film has received only mediocre reviews from critics, with many calling it a boring disappointment, but the fans so far mostly think otherwise. The packed 'Darkside Cinema' viewing I attended appeared to love it, with many cheering the film throughout and applauding the ending. I found the film to be much more entertaining and involving than reviews had lead me to believe and thought it was a very satisfactory conclusion to a great trilogy. While it doesn't quite live up to the classic original it is better than the second chapter, despite a decrease in action and violence. It's suspenseful as well as emotionally drenching and full of crowd pleasing moments. The court room drama that fills the third act is extremely captivating and emotionally involving. The directing and cinematography are superb as well as the thrilling score (once again composed by Jacob Groth). The acting is all stellar as well, especially Rapace who once again steals the show (with a character soon to become iconic). It's a well made and satisfying conclusion to an outstanding trilogy that should please almost any fan, despite what critics say.

Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffxjYiwLUko

Details

Official Sites:

Music Box Films Site [United States] official site

Country:

Sweden Denmark Germany

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

12 November 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

Filming Locations:

Fiskargatan 9, Soedermalm, Stockholm, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

EUR4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$881,737, 31 October 2010

Gross USA:

$5,190,196

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$44,276,335

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film i Väst, Nordisk Film, Sveriges Television (SVT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

147 min 185 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1