Remakes always place a filmmaker in a precarious position from the get-go. But when a movie is a remake of a well-received, recent classic, based on one of the most popular novels of modern times, you know you're on dodgy ground. It takes a very special talent to defy the odds and salvage something outstanding from this, but David Fincher is nothing short of a special talent.
The story is sprawling and in the wrong hands can be confusing. Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is a magazine editor who loses his job after being sued for libel. He is sought out by the patriarch of the Wanger family in the Northern reaches of Sweden (Christopher Plummer) to solve the mystery of his granddaughter's murder more than 30 years previous. Into the mix is thrown the character of Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) who did the original research into Blomkvist for Wanger. She's an angry, young and unconventional girl but an expert investigator - by the time she and Blomkvist finally meet, we know she is a tough nut who you wouldn't want to cross for fear of serious repercussions. Men might want to look away at a couple of moments early on in the film!
Fincher has assembled an impressive cast to help him along, comprising of some big Hollywood names in Craig, Robin Wright and Stellan Skarsgaard; some much-loved British talent in the way of Geraldine James and Joely Richardson; and an up-and-coming star in Mara, who delivers an outstanding breakout performance in the title role.
Comparisons are always going to be drawn and Noomi Rapace's BAFTA nominated performance as Lisbeth Salander was going to be a tough act to follow. After an underwhelming performance in 'A Nightmare On Elm Street', expectations were low for Mara. But somehow she's pulled it out of the bag in an inspirational performance with depth and intelligence. The character of Salander is a dream role for a young woman, in this day and age of bit-part pretty girls to support the strong male lead, and Mara has used it to full effect. The rest of the cast are good, though the different accents being used were slightly irritating throughout - someone should have made a decision. Either we're doing the Swedish accents or we're not (or in the case of Geraldine James a rich Russian accent will do).
Though Mara's performance is outstanding, it is Fincher's deft direction that carries the film to the heights that it reaches: from the dark opening titles, to the inspired choice of locations and landscapes; to the intelligent introduction of the large cast of supporting character; to the development of the intimate relationship that ensues between the lead characters of Blomkvist and Salander.
Overall the movie is more faithful to the book than its Swedish counterpart, which is both its strength and its weakness. The only way it manages to get so much of the book in is by being extremely fast-paced and head-reeling - there will be times where you need to take a deep intake of breath when you realise you haven't inhaled for minutes at a time. But the book has a slow and unfocused start and this movie feels similar with the opening storyline for Salander taking her away from the main storyline for a touch too long. Similarly, the ending is long and sprawling and could have done with cutting down - the big 'climax' happens a good 30 minutes before the end of the film.
But as the first in a trilogy, this bodes well for there to be two more excellent films coming out in the next few years. With Fincher, Craig and Mara in talks to direct and star in the other movies too, the dream team could stay mercifully in place.
Lowdown: A thrilling ride, with a breakout performance from Mara and dark direction from Fincher - but not for the faint-hearted.
Score: 9/10
