Steve Reviews The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Mikel Blomkvist is the editor of a Swedish tabloid magazine. After being shamed in a scandal, he is hired by a wealthy businessman to investigate the decades-old murder of a family member. Lisbeth Salander is a troubled, young investigator who can hack into any computer and find information on just about anyone. When the two of them join forces, they begin to uncover some secrets that were never meant to be found.

The story is wonderful, and overall, the movie is near-flawless. The only flaw, so it seems, is that the movie was made in 2009 with Swedish actors who spoke in the Swedish language.

Fast forward 12 months when MGM obtains the USA rights to an adaptation of Sweden’s hottest novel. It would only make sense that we, as Americans, wouldn’t give any credit to a foreign film that was really good. We need to do it OUR way, with OUR actors, and in OUR language. How else could OUR movie studio make money on the latest sensation? I grew up believing that we (the ‘Royal’ we) were open to and accepting of other cultures. Free trade or something (except, of course, with Cuba). As an American, I am embarrassed that we felt the need to remake this wonderful film because we’re too lazy to read subtitles. By the way . . . we shot it in Sweden.

So, I should just get over it, right? Accept the fact that we’re jumping on the bandwagon. OK, fine. I can do that. (It’s not the first time; we did it last year, too, with Let Me In) Anyway, MGM enlisted David Fincher (of Se7en and The Social Network fame) to direct. He cast Daniel Craig as Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Salander, a coveted role that MANY young Hollywood starlets tried to land. Solid choices and they both deliver. In fact, the film is . . . (dare I say it?) almost more enjoyable that the original. I will NOT begin to eat any crow yet, because I find this development to be unsettling. Yes, I like Fincher. Yes, I like Mara. Yes, I already knew I liked the story. Add in the wonderful cinematography and a brilliant score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and now I’m just pissed.

Not only did we have to go and one-up Sweden, but the silly “general public” who might not have even known about an original will probably think this was all OUR idea! Just once, I’d like for someone in Hollywood to give credit and say that someone else did it first. And by first, I mean just two years ago! On top of that, the two sequels in the trilogy have also already come and gone over seas, and you can bet that we’re going to capitalize on those as well. Mara becomes rich and famous, and Stieg Larsson is rolling over in his grave.

As a rule, I hate remakes. They are unimaginative, completely unnecessary, and give the viewers the impression that the original has been dismissed in favor of something with a current twist. Imagine, if you will, that Russia decided that they would remake Star Wars because it wasn’t in Russian. Or if Spain remade Gone With The Wind because it wasn’t in Spanish. We’d be up in arms!

Ok, Ok. Dragon Tattoo is good. Both versions. Watch the U.S. version, because it will likely get some Oscar nods. But can you do me a favor, please? Rent the old one, and decide for yourself if our arrogance was worth it.

-Steve
12.21.2011