By Rafael A. Hernadez
Take a moment to consider the kind of experience you will have at the movie theater. Decide whether you want to be pleasantly amazed or disturbingly fascinated. If you chose the latter then it would not be a bad choice in seeing The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, this adaptation of an adaptation holds strong against mysteries of old and stands out with its dark scope and gruesome plot. With all the elements of mystery intact, that of murder and serial killers, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo also is not absent of a distressing if not unbearable sexual aspect which does much to add to the intrigue of the already well designed main characters Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander.
The film starts off subtly with two parallel plots: that of Mikael’s financial and political tribulations and his eventual commission as a family investigator, and Lisbeth’s much more bleak and disenchanted life as a freelance hacker. While the audience is allowed to see Mikael uncover a puzzling if not potentially dangerous family mystery, they are then forced to watch as Lisbeth, under probation by the government, exchange sexual favors just to acquire financial support. Both stories have a certain indirect connection as Mikael unveils the presence of what may be an unidentified psycho killer and Lisbeth deals with her own psychological instability, bordering on murderous. Though the scene insights its share of grimaces and winces, seeing Lisbeth becomes a victim of rape furthers the audience’s understanding of her resolve against the criminal element.
Eventually the two plots intertwine as Mikael, who having been infiltrated by Lisbeth’s computer hacking, hires her as a research assistant. With both characters finally united, it is a treat to see the differing personalities mesh in order to untie the main mystery of the story. Lisbeth’s own experiences seem to be a well placed mechanism for her investigative skills as she displays a systematic bitterness toward the murderer rapist that she and Mikael have discovered but not yet identified. Though there is hardly any appearance of romance in the film, one cannot help but feel the relationship between Mikael and Lisbeth growing beyond the confines of friendly sexual partners, which they most certainly become. Their dynamic as investigators and friends proves impressive when the two make discoveries almost simultaneously.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is an excellent mystery that does not lack in narrative elements, being a worthy example of true modern mystery. But this narrative would go unappreciated if not for the sophisticated main characters and their respective actors. Rooney Mara excels in her role as Lisbeth, capturing well the twisted nature of her character. Daniel Craig, unlike his more suave and robust roles, portrays a more apt, shrewd and practical protagonist which is a fitting contrast to Mara’s Lisbeth. It is also a nice touch to see the setting not removed from the books original placement of Sweden. Though the actors speak English, the presence of everything else Swedish is an excellent way to maintain consistency for this popular series.
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