Death on the ice

Rating: 8/10 (1 March 2017)

This film is an adaptation of a book by Stieg Larsson, telling the story of a research journalist investigating the disappearance of a young woman from an old and renowned Swedish family. Directed by David Fincher, the film is very good, and although I have never read the book to weave comparisons, it tells a story that quickly catches our eye. Visually, the film is extraordinary, with snowy Scandinavian landscapes, a very careful cinematography and a misty and enigmatic environment, which has a special strength, as if hiding something. The soundtrack, by Trent Reznor and Ross Atticus, is a plus to build this mystery environment, that is both seductive and menacing. The actors did an excellent job, in particular Daniel Craig (perhaps his best film work, except his performance as 007) and Rooney Mara. Both were at their best level and gave their characters great strength and depth. However, I still enjoyed watching the work of Stellan Skarsgård and Christopher Plummer. The worst part of this luxurious cast is, however, the vain attempt to imitate a Scandinavian accent, which is always forced and very artificial. If this was the intention, it would have been more honest to hire actors of Scandinavian origin. I noticed that Craig did not make this mistake so much and I realized, reading a little, that the actor also disagreed with this choice. Too bad the cast did not follow his example. But this is a forgivable sin in a movie with so many qualities.