Film Review The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 
Sweden 2009. Cert: 18. 152 mins. Dir: Niels Arden Oplev. Cast: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre, Peter Haber, Sven-Bertil Taube
Film Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
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Based on the best selling Millennium trilogy that has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, Män som hatar kvinnor (or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) is the first instalment of a gripping story which looks at the mysterious Vanger Corporation who are being investigated for the possible murder of one of their members. Tragically the author, Stieg Larsson, died suddenly in November 2004 soon after passing on the manuscripts for the films to be produced.
The film opens with a publisher working for a magazine who loses a libel case against a corrupt Swedish industrialist. Nevertheless, he is hired by the former CEO of a collection of companies owned by a powerful dynasty. Vanger is tormented by the loss of a member of his own family, but he gathers strong suspicions that she may have been murdered by a member of the family. The publisher is brought in to investigate the mystery and he begins to delve deeper into the family’s murky past and expose the truth.
He receives help and support along the way from a strange and delinquent security hacker who has a dark and troublesome past of her own. The character is very headstrong but you can’t help but suspect that she is hiding a number of personal demons, especially when she comes face to face with her new sleazy and vile guardian.
Experienced actress Noomi Rapace delivers a believable and thick skinned performance in the role of the security specialist. Director Oplev does not shy away from creating a number of scenes whereby Rapace is either on the receiving end of pain or administering it herself.
The story is both pacey and puzzling, and at just over two and a half hours, it by no means drags; it remains a gripping and intelligent political thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Out now
Posted on Wednesday 10th March 2010
Michael Cunneen
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Comment by The Girl
Posted on Wed 3rd Mar 10 12:20 pm
Become a fan of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo film on Facebook for your chance to win screening tickets or a trip to Sweden, and find out more about the film – in cinemas on March 12th!
