Gripping and disturbing film

Rating: 9/10 (20 April 2010)

An exceptionally well done version of the novel of the same name about a profoundly dysfunctional young woman computer genius who teams up with a disgraced male journalist on the verge of middle age to investigate the disappearance 40 years ago of the great-niece of a wealthy industrialist. Readers of the book will not be disappointed in this excellent film treatment. Some subplots and characters were discarded or altered, but the book was so densely plotted that was inevitable. The two leads are both compelling but Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander is absolutely spellbinding. She has the perfect combination of toughness and vulnerability with a hint of possible psychopathy. You cannot take your eyes off her while she is on screen. The movie is very violent in some scenes, a violence that women will be much more sensitive to. There are rape scenes that are graphically violent although not sexually graphic. Some may not regard these as very violent simply because they do not involve blood or gore but they are very disturbing and hard to watch. Salander's revenge is a little more traditionally violent. There are some scenes that foreshadow the second book (The Girl Who Played With Fire) as well as cover the material from the first book. To fans and non-fans alike, I recommend this movie highly. The likelihood of an American version soon to come is quite depressing. Don't wait for it. See the original Swedish version.