Review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) by Eli T — 02 Jun 2013

If there's one thing David Fincher excels at, it is creating a movie that captivates audiences no matter the (often brutal) subject matter. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is his latest success, coming just one year after the masterpiece bio-drama The Social Network.

The only echoes of the latter we see are Fincher's customarily razor-sharp imagery and steady plot advancement, complimented by absorbing performances out of the entire cast. Rooney Mara is phenomenal as Lisbeth Salander, bringing her complex personality to life onscreen.

My only regret is that Fincher neglected to delve deeper into the fascinating character and instead mostly stays on the surface, a glossy exterior that is nevertheless so expertly crafted it is irresistible.

Daniel Craig compliments perfectly as a suave, handsome journalist. While he may play the same character every movie (James Bond, Layer Cake, and this latest title) the performance continues to satisfy, as nobody plays the determined, attractive, blue-eyed character quite like Daniel Craig.

A fantastic supporting cast rounds out the mix. While some criticize the film for its grating brutality, I would argue in favor of it. Just as Se7en showed grisly murders for what they are rather than dressing them up a la Hollywood, Dragon Tattoo dives into a concept like rape honestly and simply.

I have to admire everyone involved; the scenes must have been difficult to film, but they turned out wonderfully. Getting so emotionally invested in a film that is more concerned with story than characters is not easily won.

Finally, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is simply a gorgeous film. From the slick, hauntingly beautiful opening sequence to the last scene, the breathtaking cinematography adds an entire level of sophistication, realism, and even sexuality that pulls at the mind, completely engulfing the viewer in a stream of vivid images, some horrific, some nostalgic, all wonderful to behold.

Even at 2 hours and 37 minutes, the movie never feels overly long, and with total commitment from the entire cast there is no doubt this is one of the finest films of 2011.