In "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (originally titled Män som hatar kvinnor -- "Men Who Hate Women"), the first in the late Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson's "Millennium Trilogy," we are introduced to Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist.)
Blomkvist is a middle-aged journalist who has recently been publicly shamed after losing a libel case against the corrupt Swedish industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström, which in turn has serious implications for the magazine he edits and publishes, "Millennium."
But in the six months leading up to his prison sentence, Blomkvist is offered an escape. He is hired by the elderly Henrik Vanger, the former CEO of the Vanger companies -- his dysfunctional family's business -- to write the family memoir. At least, that's what is appears to be from the outside. Vanger secretly wants the journalist to investigate the disappearance of his great-niece Harriet some 40 years ago. The case has been cold for decades.
Then, of course, there's the title character, Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace). She's a punked-out 24-year-old with a bad attitude and killer computer hacking skills. She's been busy tracking Blomkvist's every move and when they finally meet, they form a strong investigative duo (as well as an awkward couple.)
But the film is more than a suspenseful murder mystery, and if you've read the book, it's difficult not to make constant comparison's to Larsson's imagined world. Some characters are omitted completely, while others are given significantly much less play on screen than in print. But the film, although lengthy at more than two hours, keeps it interesting and fast-paced with suspense and twists.
Its original title, "Men Who Hate Women," comes into play as we see blatant statements on misogyny. There are a couple graphic scenes involving sexual violence that leave a frightened but vengeful Salander the victim. The bigger message comes as Salander and Blomkvist unravel the mystery surrounding Harriet's murder, but we won't reveal too much here.
The adaptation turns out to be an intelligent thriller seeking social justice on the side. This is the Swedish adaption of Larsson's international best seller, directed by Niels Arden Oplev. The Hollywood version is forthcoming.
The movie is now showing at the Downer Theatre.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
