This film, adapted from Steig Larsson's bestselling Millenium Trilogy, is an unflinching view into the human psyche, a view into the world of evil and lies that often times go unseen. Rooney Mara plays the role of Lisbeth Salander, a ward of the state, who is the best computer hacker around. She is enlisted to be the assistant of Mikael Blomkvist, who's journalism career has just been shattered by a scandal he published that he cannot prove. Blomkvist is hired by Henrik Lundkvist to solve a mystery that has plagued his family for over four decades, the disappearance of his niece, Harriet. Lisbeth and Mikael, both with their own strengths, work together in order to solve the mystery. Lisbeth eventually falls in love with Mikael, after having been put through some harrowing sexual abuse in the first half of the movie. The film ends on a somber note, however leaves plenty of room for the continuation of the story, The Girl Who Played With Fire. The movie is very intense, with multiple scenes of torture, two of them being of a sexual/rape nature. Rooney Mara does an amazing job as Lisbeth, displaying all the intensity and subtleness that is present in the novel. She is beautiful, though you can see the pain in her face from the ordeals she has suffered through. Daniel Craig also does well as Mikael, and the cast of many supporting actors/actresses do amazing also. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is also very well done. The title sequence was, as well, a fantastic oily montage of Lisbeth's journey through the three books in the trilogy. Overall, a very intense, emotionally and physically, journey through a great detective story, all brought together by the brilliant and enigmatic performance of Rooney Mara as Lisbeth.
Rating: A
