I
understand. With a best-selling series and more than one film adaptation
floating around one needs to specify a tad-bit more which one I’m talking
about. It’s the 2011 film adaptation directed by David Fincher that I want to
look at this week. Now, at the time, I was a little bit pissed with this film.
Well, mainly because there already was a Swedish adaptation. This kinda made
sense, seeing as this is a Swedish book and all. Does Hollywood have to go
poking its nose in and re-adapting every little thing going? Not necessarily.
But credit where it’s due. I haven’t seen the Swedish version (yet) but Fincher
has definitely done one heck of a good job. Then again, I would say that, he’s
one of my favourite directors ever. Before I get any further with my rant, I’d
do well to put some reasoning behind that sentence methinks…
So, for
those of you who missed it, this is a story of skeletons in the closet and
deception spanning decades. Michael Blomkvist is a renowned journalist.
However, he is not having the best period of his career, as allegations he has
made against a powerful businessman have turned out to be false, ending in him
being dragged through courts and losing almost all his life savings. In the
midst of all this however, he is offered an unlikely lifeline. Old-fashioned
family patriarch Henrich, head of one of the most powerful family businesses in
Sweden contacts Blomkvist. He has a personal assignment for him. Years ago, 40
years ago to be precise, his great niece Hannah has disappeared. Quite suddenly
and with no trace whatsoever. Henrich is dying. And he is convinced his great
niece is dead. But he wants Blomkvist, who has proved himself as an
above-average investigator before, to look into it. Blomkvist begrudgingly
accepts and teams up with the anti-social yet supremely talented hacker /
investigator Lisbeth Salander to uncover secrets that have lain hidden for over
40 years. It may have been wiser to leave some secrets where they were…
Now, the
story, I cannot find fault with. Lisbeth, the unlikely heroine of this series
is a brilliant character, the epitome of an anti-hero if there ever was one.
And honestly, there are not enough anti-heroes about for my liking. Even fewer
“anti-heroines”. Blomkvist is a bit bland but realistic. You know, believable –
which often is more than can be said for a lot for a lot of characters in this
kind of story. And the story… I mean wow. I have seen a few detective / crime
stories in my time but this deserves to be among the classics. It is both
imaginative and exciting.
However the
problem I found with the book is that well… Not to speak ill of the dead – the
author of the book – but I really, really don’t think he could write well. I
mean the story, the concept was great. But the book was far too wordy. Full of
descriptions and explanations that were just… Well, surplus. That led nowhere.
The book was full of good intentions but way too… Crowded.
Fincher has
put an end to that problem. Quite unlike the book, the film cuts back on words
and concentrates on visuals. And you know what Fincher is like with this kind
of thing. Striking pictures, ominous, an underlying sense of danger. And
silence. For anyone who has read the book, this fits S much better with
Lisbeth’s character, don’t you think? Having been cut back and streamlined, the
film flows like silk. And succeeds in putting your heart in your mouth within
minutes. I knew the whole story and still I loved it. I seriously hope you
don’t miss this one!!
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