starring Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace
written by Rasmus Heisterberg. Nikolaj Arcel
directed by Niels Arden Oplev
152 minutes
in Swedish with English subtitles
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is hired by Henrik Vanger, head of the Vanger Group, to figure out what happened to his niece Harriet, who disappeared almost 40 years earlier. Henrik is convinced that one of his relatives murdered her. Mikael has a personal connection to the case in that Harriet was his babysitter when he was just a few years old.
Mikael is facing jail time for libel, at the time he accepts the job. He is investigated by Lisabeth Salander, a young hacker with problems of her own, on behalf of Henrik Vanger prior to his offering Mikael the job.
Mikael works the case on his own until Lisabeth, who is still monitoring his internet activity, reaches out to him. She helps him to decode a mysterious entry in the diary that Harriet left behind. The mysterious entry leads to a series of murders which seem to be connected to the Vanger family.
Mikael and Lisabeth almost get killed in the process but eventually figure out what exactly happened to Harriet and the story behind the murders connected to the Vangers.
Thoughts
This movie was based on the novel of the same name by Stieg Larson. There are two more more Swedish movies also based on books he wrote. There are also extended versions of all three movies. As I understand it the extended versions were originally intended to be released on television but then got edited down for theatrical release. I'm not sure whether I should watch the next movie or go back and watch the extended edition of this movie or jump straight to the extended edition of the next story.
There is an American remake of this movie which was released in 2011. I might at some point give that a try but I will probably watch the other two movies or extended versions before I get around to the 2011 movie, if I decide to give the English language version a go.
I wasn't crazy about the relationship the developed between Mikael and Lisabeth. It seemed like an unnecessary addition to the story. Other opinions exist. It just felt like it came a bit out of nowhere to me.
I'm left wondering about Harriet's sister. Mikael and Lisabeth discover some things about her. She must have known some of the things that Harriet knew. Maybe she went through some of the things that Harriet experienced but there is no indication of that in the movie.
What an intense ride. It is very violent in places. Even setting aside the violence it was riveting to watch. In some ways it felt like it wrapped things up a little too neatly for me but I'm quibbling. This is well worth a watch for those who enjoy a mystery and can stomach the violence, which was not cartoonish.
Notes
I have seen Michael Nyqvist in one other movie, John Wick (2014). I have not seen any other movies in which Noomi Rapace has appeared.
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