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 by), Stieg Larsson (novel)

Stars:

Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer

Won 1 Oscar. Another 27 wins & 90 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	...	Frode
Robin Wright	...	Erika Berger
Yorick van Wageningen	...	Bjurman
Joely Richardson	...	Anita Vanger
Geraldine James	...	Cecilia
Goran Visnjic	...	Armansky
Donald Sumpter	...	Detective Morell
Ulf Friberg	...	Wennerström
Bengt C.W. Carlsson	...	Palmgren
Tony Way	...	Plague
Per Myrberg	...	Harald

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.

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Plot Keywords:

investigation | computer hacker | journalist | hacker | punk | 

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Taglines:

She's Coming

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Sweden Norway

Language:

English Swedish

Release Date:

21 December 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Filming Locations:

Flughafen Zürich Kloten, Kloten, Kanton Zürich, Switzerland

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,750,000, 25 December 2011, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$102,515,793

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$232,617,430

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

158 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film opened at number three at the U.S. box-office, behind Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). Ghost Protocol featured Michael Nyqvist, and Game of Shadows featured Noomi Rapace, who respectively played Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009).

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Goofs

Frode tells Mikael (as if he would not know it) that it has been coldest winter in 20 years. Sea is not frozen, there is very little snow, and you can see wet snow coming down from fully clouded sky: Temperature is obviously close to zero Celsius. Besides, this happens right before or after New Year, when coldest time of year is just beginning at this part of world.

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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.

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

Referenced in Class: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo (2016)

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Soundtracks

In the Red
Written by Kristoffer Rygg, Tore Ylvisaker and Jørn H. Sværen
Performed by Ulver
Courtesy of Jester Records, Norway

User Reviews

Quick Comparison of both versions - both excellent in their own right

Here is a rundown of the differences in the two movies:

-MIKAEL BLOMKVIST-

American - Blomkvist is played as more of a tough guy and not a good guy. His flaws are laid bare and he shows himself to be much more detached than emotional.

Swedish - This is the "good guy" side of Mikael. He is sensitive, caring, and smart. He shows a protective side when it comes to Lisbeth. Physically speaking the Swedish Blomkvist doesn't look as sturdy as his American counterpart. He has a gut and appears to be quite a bit older than Lisbeth which can make the relationship between them more shudder inducing and probably accounts for why there are fewer sex scenes between them in the Swedish version.

-LISBETH SALANDER-

American - Perhaps because Blomkvist was made into such a strong character Lisbeth was then morphed into a more withdrawn and vulnerable girl so as to complement the new Blomkvist. She still has attitude, aggression, and rage but she also exhibits a quiet shy side that was not in the original as well as more of a romantic side.

Swedish - In this version Lisbeth is not shy, not gentle, and not nice. She doesn't chase Blomkvist - he chases her. She perfectly embodies everything you think of when you think of a strong female lead and has an unpredictability and edge to her that is exciting to watch. Her dragon tattoo is much, much better.

-OVERALL-

I liked the American Mikael and the Swedish Lisbeth.

While I may prefer a scene or two from the Swedish version, such as the ending, overall I enjoyed the American version more.

On the flip side, I can understand why some may hate this version because Lisbeth was their favorite character and she's been changed into something they don't like. For me, the modifications to Lisbeth's character weren't severe enough to put me off.

The Swedish version captured a cult following for a reason and I would recommend both to anyone who has an interest in darker gritty movies that have a raw intensity to them. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo isn't for the faint of heart and that's what I love about it!