Last night, the old man and I watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (which I keep wanting to call "The Girl with the Red Dragon Tattoo". I assume that, in my version, Edward Norton* would pop up as an FBI agent) - the original film, in Swedish, with subtitles in English. LOVED it.
Noomi Rapace, who plays the girl in question, is really great in this film. I warn you - there are a couple of scenes in the first half of the film that are hard to take. This girl has led a harsh life, to be certain, and we see a bit of it on screen. What is etched on Noomi's face in those scenes, however, in contrast to her wide, curious eyes in later ones, is something fairly remarkable to witness. I also really liked Michael Nyqvist in the lead role of Mikael Blomkvist. I found him charming and sweet and even sexy. The relationship they develop makes perfect sense and my chest gets a little happy ache even reflecting back on it and little ways he would smile when he looked at her.
The mystery was sufficiently interesting and surprising. Easy enough to follow without being easily figured out (I hate it when I solve the mystery before the characters do). Of course, now when I read the book I will know what happens, but I am going to read it anyway.
We're watching the sequel tonight. I may well have found my latest obsession.
I am interested to see how American filmmakers fuck this film up when they make their version next year.
Speaking of which, a few weeks back I watched Let the Right One In - the original film, in Swedish, with subtitles in English. LOVED it (and yes, I totally just did copy and paste right there). This film, as you may know, has already gone thru the grinder of Hollywood filmmaking and has come out the other end as Let Me In. I haven't see the remake yet, but I intend to. It actually looks pretty good, but I am interested to see the differences between the two. I also REALLY need to read the book, because there are some things which are explained in it which are not in the film.
The original film, though creepy and touching all at the same time, did leave a few things left unsaid. Rather important things, too, and while I still really enjoyed the movie, these things bugged me long after it had ended. After doing some research (the internet is our friend), I discovered that these things are explained in the book.
If you are keeping score, you will note that I have now discussed two Swedish films that I have seen recently, both in Swedish with subtitles in English. I will say this: The scenery in the Red Dragon Tattoo movie totally made me want to go there. Beautiful. I did note, however, that people were rarely without parkas.
Except for the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, cuz she's cool like that. Or warm like that. Anyway, she kicks ass and that's hard to do in a parka.
*Speaking of Edward Norton, did anyone catch his guest appearance on Modern Family, wherein he played the bass player from Spandau Ballet? OMG so hilarious. I lurve him. Plus, as someone who spent the late-eighties mocking Spandau Ballet, I was especially amused by that entire thing.
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