by Katie Carns
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is an unsettling and shocking insight into the disturbing side of human nature.
The film uses suspense, horror, drama, mystery and even humor to tell a story that isn’t the classic version of good versus evil; let’s face it, life is more complicated than most movies let on. The protagonists, Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), have their own demons to face down, which makes being the “heroes” somewhat ironic and complex.
Investigative journalist Blomkvist is found guilty of libel in a case where he was possibly set up. To escape the media attention and financial disaster resulting from his conviction, he accepts a position from wealthy industrialist Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) who offers him a job investigating the 40-year-old murder of his niece. When the job becomes too much to handle on his own, he is referred to private detective Salander, an emotionally disturbed young woman who has violent tendencies and uses illegal methods. Together they unravel the profound and dark secrets of the missing girl’s past.
Craig delivers an outstanding performance once again. His intense expressions, charming accent and proclivity to action-packed films make him the perfect choice for idealistic journalist Blomkvist who often finds himself in harm’s way. Craig was only slightly upstaged by his co-star, Mara, who dominated the character of Salander.
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and probably its sequels, are not recommended for viewers under 17. It’s rated R for good reasons.
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