Film Review by Alyn Darnay
A few years back, before his untimely death, a Swedish journalist named Stieg
Larsson, sat down and tinkered out three compelling novels. These novels, now known as the Millennium Trilogy, have become the biggest International Bestsellers in recent times.
As is the natural order of things, the books have lead to a trio of Scandi-helmed films, each created by a different screenwriter and director, but still staring the same brilliant cast. Unlike most projects of this ilk, we are all actually the better for it.
In the first film, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Larsson’s story and characters were artfully condensed down to a manageable size and the director and cast were able to achieve a logical, articulate, and breathtaking chase against time to solve a 40-year-old cold case, while introducing two instant classic screen characters. A thoroughly entertaining film, I highly recommend seeing it (now out on DVD).
Though it might be better to see the first film before entering into the second, I believe, it’s not that necessary, as you’ll come to speed quickly; enough clues are explained within the structure of the story and dialog to satisfy most of your curiosity, and the story itself will certainly hold your attention.
The Girl Who Played With Fire, is the second installment in the series. Brilliantly
conceived by screenwriter Jonas Frykberg and director Daniel Alfredson, it provides a dangerous new case for its central characters, the fiercely independent bisexual punk hacker-heroine Lisbeth Salander (perfectly cast and played by Noomi Rapace) and crusading business journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist).
Picking up the story a year after the incidents
in the first movie, the story’s two protagonists have become woefully estranged from each other. When, through a series of horrific circumstances Lisbeth’s fingerprints are found on a murder weapon belonging to her hateful guardian, the two are separately drawn into an investigation of the murders occurring around them. As Lisbeth evades the police and Mikael rushes to prove her innocent, they are forced to pursue a unique collection of villains, a rapist, some motorcycle thugs, a superhuman killer and a Cold War spy, all while more and more light is shed about Lisbeth’s mysterious troubled past.
A sharp sense of reality mixed with a pleasing dose of pure pulp fiction and the addition of a strong feminist subtext for spice, makes this Swedish production absolutely riveting. Add to that Peter Mokrosinski’s brittle cinematography of Stockholm’s wintery streets and Sweden’s lonely surrounding countryside, then throw in a measure of Jacob Groth’s pitch perfect music and you get a most satisfying movie experience. You won’t be disappointed with this movie.
Next out, and I can’t wait, the 3rd installment of the series, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest, due out before the end of the year…I hope.
(5 of 5 Plam Trees)
With English Subtitles
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, Peter Andersson, Annika Hallin, Per Oscarsson. Director: Daniel Alfredson
Screenwriter: Jonas Frykberg
Based on the novel by: Stieg Larsson
Producer: Soren Staermose
Director of Photography: Peter Mokrosinski
Production Designers: Jan Olof Agren, Maria Haard
Music: Jacob Groth
Costume Designer: Cilla Rorby
Editor: Mattias Morheden
No rating, 129 minutes