Review of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009) by Omar L — 23 Mar 2011

This is the third film to conclude the film adaptations of author Stieg Larsson's "Millennium Trilogy". Once again this thriller follows our heroine Lisbeth Sanders as she finds herself recovering from the events that happened in the previous film. This is by far the slowest of the three films, but it's just as good. The whole cast is terrific but it's Noomi Rapace that steals the show in this film as well as the other two that came before. She captures the character of Lisbeth so well in all her hurt, violence, and uncanny intelligence. I'm baffled at why she didn't win an Academy Award for Best Actress this year. The only thing I can think of is that this is a foreign film and it didn't garner enough attention for American audiences to create a buzz going into award season.

The first film was a classic mystery thriller, and the second one was more of an action thriller, and this third one is the perfect political thriller that ties off loose ends the story gave us at it roots. The film ends in terrific court room drama and then adds a great couple emotional scenes for a powerful encore. A great finish to the trilogy, but I'm left hungry for more Lisbeth Sanders. I have a feeling Fincher's American versions aren't going to fill my appetite in the way that Noomi Rapace has done. I didn't much care for Robert Downey Jr's "Sherlock Holmes", but I'm excited as ever to catch the sequel because Noomi Rapace will star in it. 10/10 from me.