The film stars Daniel Craig as Mikael Blockiest and Rooney Mara as Liberty Salander and tells the story of a man's mission to find out what has happened to a girl who has been missing for 40 years, and who may have been murdered. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including one for Rooney Mara for Best Actress, and won one for Best Film Editing.
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Plot
Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), co-owner of Swedish "Millennium" magazine, has just lost a libel case brought against him by crooked businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström. Meanwhile, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a researcher and computer hacker, has compiled an extensive background check on Blomkvist for a job that Swedish magnate, Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) wants him to perform.In exchange for damning information about Wennerström, Blomkvist agrees to investigate the disappearance and possible murder of Henrik's grandniece, Harriet, 40 years ago. While hunting for clues, Blomkvist uncovers a notebook filled with information that may help explain Harriet's disappearance.
Salander, who is under state legal guardianship due to diagnosed mental incompetency, is appointed a new guardian, lawyer Nils Bjurman (Yorick van Wageningen). He takes control of Salander's finances and rapes her. She stuns him with a taser, blackmails him, and regains control of her life.
Blomkvist hires Salander to further investigate the notebook's content, and she uncovers a connection to a series of murders that occurred from the late 1940s to the mid 1960s. During further investigation, Salander and Blomkvist become lovers. Henrik's brother Harald (Per Myrberg) identifies Martin, Harriet's brother (Stallman Skarsgård), as a possible suspect. Meanwhile, Salander makes increasingly revealing connections between Harriet's disappearance and the entire Vanger dynasty.
Blomkvist breaks into Martin's house to look for more clues, but Martin catches him. He brags about his crimes, but denies killing his sister. Salander arrives and saves Blomkvist. She pursues Martin, who loses control of his vehicle on an icy road and dies when it catches fire.
As more connections are made about the Vanger family, Blomkvist deduces that Harriet is still alive, living under a false identity to hide from Martin. Blomkvist confronts Harriet, who describes the generations of abuse within the Vanger family and Martin's knowledge of her involvement in her father's death. Finally free of her brother, thanks to Salander and Blomkvist, Harriet returns to Sweden and tearfully reunites with Henrik.
As promised, Henrik gives Blomkvist the information on Wennerström, but it is not helpful. Salander responds by hacking Wennerström's computer and presenting Blomkvist with the necessary incriminating information about his activities. This evidence vindicates "Millennium" and destroys Wennerström.
Salander also hacks into Wennerström's bank accounts and transfers two billion euros into her own accounts. During this time, Wennerström is murdered. On her way to give Blomkvist a Christmas present, Salander sees Blomkvist and his longtime lover and business partner Erika Berger (Robin Wright) walking together happily. Heartbroken, she throws the gift away and rides off on her motorcycle.
Cast
- Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist
- Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander
- Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger
- Stellan Skarsgård as Martin Vanger
- Robin Wright as Erika Berger
- Steven Berkoff as Dirch Frode
- Geraldine James as Cecilia Vanger
- Yorick van Wageningen as Nils Bjurman
- Joely Richardson as Anita Vanger / Harriet Vanger
- Goran Višnjić as Dragan Armansky
- Donald Sumpter as Detective Morell
- Embeth Davidtz as Annika Giannini
- Joel Kinnaman as Christer Malm
- Elodie Yung as Miriam Wu
- Tony Way as Plague
- Alan Dale as Detective Isaksson
- Julian Sands as Young Henrik Vanger
- David Dencik as Young Morell
- Fredrik Dolk as Wennerström's Lawyer
- Per Myrberg as Harald Vanger
- Gustaf Hammarsten as Young Harald
- Leo Bill as Trinity
- Josefin Asplund as Pernilla Blomkvist
- Matthew Wolf as Tech Clerk
Production
The English-language film is directed by David Fincher based on an adapted screenplay by Steven Zaillian. In early 2010, producer Scott Rudin began developing the project under Columbia Pictures, though Paramount Pictures had considered an adaptation in September 2008, when Alfred A. Knopf published the novel for the United States market.By April 2010, Fincher was attached as director. Shooting began in Stockholm in September 2010. Filming mostly took place in central Stockholm, where the majority of the story centers. In particular, the Mariatorget neighborhood on Södermalm, the Stockholm Courthouse (Rådhuset) and at three locations in the city’s archipelago. Scenes set outside Blomkvist's apartment building were shot at the historic Laurinska huset building, while Salander's building was located on nearby Brännkyrkagatan at No. 66. The Hofsta Säteri estate in Björkvik served as the Vanger compound on the fictional island of Hedeby. The estate dates back to the 1300s and is located 140 kilometers southwest of Stockholm. The old bridge in the small town of Segersta served as the bridge between Hedestad and the island of Hedeby, while the Hedestad parade was filmed in Uppsala and the Hedestad train station scenes were shot in Solleftea. Jeff Cronenweth replaced original cinematographer Fredrik Bäckar after eight weeks. Principal photography moved to Zurich in early December 2010, at locations including the Dolder Grand Hotel and Kloten Airport before breaking for Christmas. Production resumed at the Sony Studios and Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, then returned to Sweden in the spring. The production also traveled to Norway and shot at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen for a half day in April 2011 for a travel montage at the end of the film. In May 2011, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer became a co-financier, putting up 20% of the film's budget, and getting some international TV rights.
The film's abstract, all-black title sequence was created by Blur Studio and features a cover version of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song", produced by soundtrack composers Trent Reznor (from the popular rock band Nine Inch Nails) and Atticus Ross. Fincher suggested the song for the opening, but Reznor was reluctant to record a well-known song; he only agreed at Fincher's request.[15] Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O performed the vocals. Led Zeppelin licensed the song only for use in the film's teaser and title sequence. Fincher stated that he sees title sequences as an opportunity to set the stage for the film, or to get an audience thinking in different terms from any preconceptions of a film.
Instead of the typical three-act structure, the film tells the story in five acts, a choice the production team made somewhat reluctantly, though Fincher points out such a structure is "very similar to a lot of TV cop dramas.
Casting
Johnny Depp, Viggo Mortensen, Brad Pitt and George Clooney were considered for the lead male role. Daniel Craig was cast as Mikael Blomkvist in July 2010 with options to reprise the role in the next two films. He stated in a press interview that he gained some weight for the role and akin to the portrayal of the character in the book, and he had to set himself up by being occasionally slightly more accident prone and clumsy. Craig originally turned down the role of Mikael Blomkvist due to possible conflicts with the next James Bond film Skyfall. After production of the film was suspended Craig's schedule freed up and he retook the role. Carey Mulligan, Ellen Page, Kristen Stewart, Natalie Portman, Mia Wasikowska, Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Olivia Thirlby, Emily Browning, Eva Green, Scarlett Johansson, Sophie Lowe, Sarah Snook, Léa Seydoux, Emma Watson, Evan Rachel Wood, and Katie Jarvis were among the actresses considered for the lead role. (Some actresses turned down the role; others were rejected by filmmakers and the studio.) Ultimately, in August, Rooney Mara was cast as Lisbeth Salander. Although the role had drawn the attention of many actresses, some eventually withdrew their names from consideration due to the time commitment and low pay. Mia Wasikowska turned down an offer to audition for the part. Carey Mulligan auditioned three times, while Sophie Lowe and Scarlett Johansson also read for the role.Soundtrack
Main article: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack)
The soundtrack was created by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who previously
collaborated with Fincher for the soundtrack of The Social Network. Reznor and
Ross' band How to Destroy Angels also contribute two songs to the soundtrack: A
cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" (with Karen O of the Yeah
Yeah Yeahs on vocals), which plays during the title sequence, and one of Bryan
Ferry's "Is Your Love Strong Enough", which plays during the end
credits.Though not included on the soundtrack, the song "Orinoco Flow" by Enya is featured in a pivotal scene during the film. Other songs featured in the film include "The Guillotine" by Swedish band Khoma played during Lisbeth's visit to Plague's apartment, "All That I Wanted" by short-lived German band Belfegore played during Lisbeth's sitting in front of the heater, and "Electrosexual" by Shèna played during the club scene, "In The Red" by Ulver played during Lisbeth's tattoo, and "Lux Aeterna" by Edward Elgar played during Mikael's lying on the couch.
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