Rooney Mara gives a stunning performance as a most unorthodox heroine

Rating: 8/10 (9 January 2012)

The most memorable thing about this movie must watching the anti-heroine Lisbeth. Rooney Mara gives and unforgettable performance. She played the European street urchin so well that if I didn't know she was an American I would never have guessed it. Her persona is so effectively weird and yet totally fascinating. For what she went through for this role she deserves some awards for sure.
I found that as a film adaptation it was good. There are things I didn't like about the story itself though.
Casting: As the central reporter character Daniel Craig looks suitably weatherbeaten to be a middle aged Scandinavian. Christopher Plummer is always a welcome stately presence - how does he do it at his age? Joely is good. Stellan is suitable. Robin Wright came across as not very European even though she tried to put a slight accent on. Would have been better with someone like Kristin Scott Thomas. Anyway liked that they all had slight but not overly obtrusive Swedish accents.
Production is good - the cold and depressing Scandinavian city and countryside in winter feel really comes through.
I didn't read the books or watch the Swedish film versions so I came to watch this movie not knowing much about what was in store. There are problems with the story that it's not fair blame the movie for. For example: if she was so smart how come she was in such a pathetic position before. Surely she would have got out her financial problems by some other scheme. Also how she became such a Mission Impossible agent in Zurich is far fetched though the transformation is fun to watch. The story had some twists for the sake of twists. The salacious bits are too unpleasant. The lesbianism is just there to titillate. The sexual violence is distasteful. But these are all faults of the storyline and the film is bound by the story. Some of the details are a bit rushed for people who are unfamiliar wi th the story as time is short. Whatever the faults, the complex and scary Lisbeth is just thoroughly engrossing from start to finish. It's quite a feat that the story makes you on her side and triumph in her successes.
Overall its an atmospheric transporting experience with a real European mystery feel that I haven't felt since good old movies like The Odessa File. The story may be a little too unpleasant in parts. However in the end the character of Lisbeth - one of the most unusual and unlikely heroes in the history of movies makes this worth a watch for mature audiences.