It’s very long. It’s also incredibly powerful, keeping me riveted to my seat for its entire 158 minutes, or more then 2 1/2 hours .
That’s my take on “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” a strong, vibrant adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel. Screenwriter Steven Zaillian has taken some liberties with Larsson’s work, though I think he does minimal damage to the original, and young Rooney Mara comes within an eyelash of equalling Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander. Because of Zaillian’s vision, or perhaps that of director David Fincher, we don’t see quite the same Mikael Blomkvist, but Daniel Craig’s portrayal is as solid as that of Michael Nykvist. Craig’s version is slightly humbler, less the casual seducer.
Fincher’s sexual scenes between Salander and the horrid, sadistic Nils Bjurman (Yorick Van Wageningen) are fiercer — perhaps more difficult to watch — in 2011 than in 2009. Her revenge also is more violent, but Bjurman had it coming.
Mara’s full name is Patricia Rooney Mara, and she’s the daughter of Tim Mara, grandson of Jack Mara, the founder of the New York Giants of the NFL. Her mother, Kathleen, is a great grand-daughter of Art Rooney, who founded the Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL royalty, indeed, but the 26-year-old actress has been working in film and television for six years. She played Erica, the girl friend of Mark Zuckerberg in “The Social Network,” also directed by Fincher.
The cast is deep and strong, with Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger, the billionaire who wants to see his daughter, Harriet, avenged; she’s played by Alexandra Daddario as a young girl, Moa Garpendal as she grows up. Stellen Skarsgard is outstanding as Martin Vanger and Joely Richardson as Anita Vanger. Robin Wright is Erika Berger, the editor of Millennium magazine and Blomkvist’s boss
Mara is strong and wonderfully expressionless as Lisbeth; her stare sends a chill into you. Interestingly, I found that she and Rapace, from the 2009 film, are almost interchangeable as you watch them. Terrific performances by both.
Cinematographer Jeff Cronenworth has the gloomy Stockholm palette down pat, and Fincher’s pace allows the viewer time to keep the various characters in their proper places. I’m glad I do not have to choose between the two versions; they’re slightly different but highly enjoyable.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo opens today on several screens.
— Joe