The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard

Directed by David Fincher

Rating: B

When the Millennium trilogy hit bookstores, the author Stieg Larsson became a hit, only he was not alive to see it. Larsson died of a heart attack in 2004, leaving an unfinished fourth novel incomplete. However, the trilogy has done profitably, according to his website. The series has sold over twenty million copies and Larsson was the second bestselling author in 2008.

In 2009, director Niels Arden Oplev first came out with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Sweden. Now two years later, American director David Fincher has successfully produced an “American” version with better known actors to play main characters Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo takes place in Sweden, where Mikael Blomkvist has been deemed “guilty” for libel against Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. The best thing for Blomkvist to do would be to go under the radar. Henrik Vanger has an interesting task for Blomkvist: to find out what exactly happened to his granddaughter Harriet and which one of his family members killed her. Seen as a waste of time in Blomkvist’s eyes as the mystery occurred forty years ago, Blomkvist takes the job as Vanger promises to give him what he wants: a secret to take Wennerstrom down.

Anyone who has read the book could only imagine how difficult a task it would be to get into character with Lisbeth Salander. White-as-a-sheet, piercings everywhere, no respect for anyone, Lisbeth is her own boss. Rooney Mara, who takes on this role, does an excellent and convincing job. Mara immerses herself in the role; actually getting the piercings Lisbeth has in eyebrows and private parts. She loses a little bit of weight to look like the skeletal Listbeth and cuts off most of her locks. Mara’s acting deserves to win an Oscar.

Daniel Craig steals most of the movie as the leading male character, Mikael Blomkvist. While Craig plays a reasonable role, the one factor that could not fully convince me of his character is his accent. While yes, viewers in English-speaking countries are watching it in the natural language, Blomkvist is supposed to be Swedish. Craig speaks with his natural English accent, not Swedish. Most of the characters convince you of their role because they make an effort to have some sort of Swedish accent.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo does have some very explicit scenes which could make some viewers uncomfortable. While the movie is quite lengthy, almost three hours, the pace is fast enough to keep viewers from checking for the time. The plot really pulls the audience in so that viewers are not yawning too many times. Like many films based off of novels, this particular film strays from the path a bit. Overall, David Fincher did include scenes not shown in the Swedish version which makes this up-to-date film more appealing.

Overall, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is rated “R” for a reason but that should not keep adults from watching it. It is an exciting, fast paced thriller worth the watch.

Beginners

Ewan McGregor, Mélanie Laurent, Christopher Plummer

Directed by Mike Mills

Rating: B-

Oliver Fields (McGregor) grew up with bad examples of what a happy marriage should look like. He tends to be the one to leave a relationship, even if it was not so bad. Then his mother dies and a few months later his father, Hal (Plummer), decides it's time to come out of the closet and experience a lifestyle he's suppressed for so long. Oliver soon loses his father to cancer and is battling his own sadness until he meets Anna (Laurent). She is an actress and leaves Los Angeles some short months in order to work. This is a relationship Oliver wants to work but will he decide to leave her too?

The reason why I wanted to watch Beginners is because I saw this huge movie poster at the movie theater and it looked kind of artsy. Plus it had Ewan McGregor in it, who in my opinion, is a great actor who knows how to not get type-casted into the same role. He has played the singing role (and has a remarkable voice in Moulin Rouge), the gay role (I Love You Phillip Morris), and even a jedi (Star Wars). This man has talent.

In all honesty Beginners is slow enough to put viewers to sleep and has, in the case of watching it with my parents. It's one of those movies viewers need to pummel through but it is worth it. I stuck with it to the end, paying attention, and it was good. The movie is visually appealing; by that I mean it's filmed like an artsy, indie-film. The chemistry between Oliver and Anna is not the typical romance we find in most movies. They are both sad but there is something there between them that makes it work. They make each other happy, though not typically "curing" each other of their sadness. There is still some ground that needs to be covered between the two.

While Beginners may not be the funnest movie to watch, Focus Features (which produced this film) has produced other great movies. When I find out a movie has been made by Focus Features, I get excited because I know that most of the time it will turn out to be a great movie. So if you have the patience to sit through a slow movie (and at least an hour and a half so not too long!), then I definitely recommend renting Beginners. I have a feeling that Beginners is going to be one of those movies you won't want to watch for another year but find yourself in the mood for it six months later.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Heath Ledger, Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole, Christopher Plummer

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Rating: 4 stars

A traveling theater company in London, England, displays a routine show with a magical twist. Anton (Andrew Garfield) usually escorts an audience member on stage through an extraordinary mirror. Upon entering the mirror, the audience member enters into their desire. However, the theater company's act doesn't intrigue many people. While traveling across a bridge, they come across a hanged man not quite dead. This man has trouble remembering who he is but finds out his name is Tony (Heath Ledger). Tony has some good ideas to help the company earn more money. The only problem is, Tony attracts quite a bit of trouble during an act and brings trouble inside the mirror.

A little known fact to many people is that The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is actually Heath Ledger's final film. This movie deserved four stars and is a great end to Heath Ledger's acting career. Since Heath Ledger died halfway through making the film, Terry Gilliam had to find a replacement. He not only found one but three replacements: Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Ferrell. Now, you might think that it's a bit silly that three people would be playing Ledger's role but it actually fits perfectly. Since crossing the mirror transforms into whatever the person entering desires, the character Tony changes actors each time he crosses the mirror. In order to go into the mirror, Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) has to meditate for the passing to work. Otherwise, you pass the mirror into the back of the stage. The main plot of the movie is that Dr. Parnassus made a bet with Mr. Nick (Tom Waits) who is also the devil. Each person to go into the mirror has to make a choice and that choice is either giving your soul to the devil or choosing not to give your soul. It's not as simple as saying "no thanks" because Mr. Nick has tricks up his sleeve. If Mr. Nick collects five souls before Dr. Parnassus, Mr. Nick gets Valentina (Lily Cole), Dr. Parnassus' daughter. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is clever and an interesting film to watch. I would definitely recommend this movie to watch if you're a fan of the bizarre, dream-like movies. However, this movie does not have a happy ending but one that makes you think.