"Everyone has Secrets..."

Over the past week I was finishing up with a book I purchased at Target called The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. (I have always been a bit late when checking out "internationally claimed" things.) It is the first book in a series of three written by Stieg Larsson. The first thing that sparked my interest in this book was that it was written by a Swedish author. The next thing that sparked my interest even further was that it was made into a film last year in Sweden. (I have more faith in foreign films lately than American ones, but that is a whole other rant) Both the book and movie did not disappoint.
The novel begins with a murder mystery that is over 40 years old. Henrik Vanger employs Mikael Blomkvist to investigate the disappearance of his niece, Harriet Vanger, in September 1966. Blomkvist is a journalist who was recently been convicted of libel and must serve a sentence of three months in prison for the conviction. He agrees to take on the investigation to separate himself from his magazine Millennium in an attempt to save the magazine.  It is only later that Blomkvist is joined by the interesting heroine of  story Lisbeth Salander, the girl with the dragon tattoo. It becomes clear early on that the real story is about Lisbeth herself and the mystery that surrounds her. She is a troubled young woman, 24, who is an amazing investigative researcher, has a constant internal struggle, and does not like to become close to people. She teams up with Mikael to try and solve the 40 year old mystery that quickly becomes a modern day problem.
The novel itself is 590 pages and reading it I became very skeptical that anyone would be able to pull off a descent adaptation of the book that was a proper representation of Lisbeth and the rest of the novel. Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg did a wonderful job with the screenplay. They were able to cut away the pieces that where not completely necessary without taking away from the characters and their development. All major scenes from the novel that were essential to each character and the story were there. At one point near the beginning of the film, they mentioned the death of one character that is very important to the end of the story in the novel. I was very curious to see how they were going to get around that, but they did a great job. They used the death of the character to reach the same ending in a slightly different way for the sake of time. This really impressed me because it was clear to me at that moment that this entire movie was extremely thought out and put together with real care and with a certain respect for the novel. (Stieg Larsson passed away shortly after he completed the third novel and therefore was not there for any sort of direction) 
The one thing that was slightly different from the novel is that there are at least 2 moments in the movie that Nikolaj and Rasmus put in which gives the audience a look into the mysterious past of Lisabeth. The novel tells you about her violent tendencies as a child and adolescent, but never really goes into anything more than that. I felt that at the end of the novel I had more questions about her than in the beginning. The movie shows a short flashback into Salander's childhood. I am assuming that this particular moment comes from the second novel, The Girl Who Played with Fire. (I haven't gotten to that one yet)
The director, Niels Arden Oplev, did an equally good job with the film. Keeping the tone very dark and cold, not only in location but in the colors and contrasts that he used throughout. There was no real sunshine through 3/4 of the movie. A constant reminder to the audience of the looming situation and the cloud that it has been over Hendrik all of these years. 

My biggest praise will have to go to Noomi Rapace. She did such an amazing job with the role of Lisbeth Salander. Lisbeth is a girl that says so much in her silences. Rapace could not have done a better job with so much emotion in her eyes and her body language. She always looked as if she was deep in thought. Almost as if she was arguing with herself at times. Even the quick, awkward shuffle that she does says so much for her character. She has so much baggage that she is carrying around and her inability to trust is not helping her. At one point she talks about how a persons upbringing is no excuse for awful behavior as an adult. She says that everyone is given the same choice. I felt like she was not only trying to tell Blomkvist this, but herself more than anyone. Noomi was just fantastic. 
I really recommend this movie to anyone who as or hasn't read the novel. (If you have read the novel do expect some big changes) Don't be frightened of the subtitles. Hollywood is in the process of producing and English version of the film (like I have said before they have no original ideas left so they have the remake successful foreign films....sorry like I said a rant for another day),but I have my doubts about this. I do not think that there is an actress out there that will be able to pull off the dark and disturbed Lisbeth. I read something last week that Scarlett Johansson is in talks for the role.... and if that is the case...... the movie is doomed before it has even been made. I don't care how unreasonable I am being, but I have seen enough of her to know that she will not be able to pull of this role. I can see them trying to make this more of an action film than it is supposed to be, focusing on the things that are really not important, and not focusing on the things that are important. Will I see the movie? Yea of course.... I am a glutton for punishment and I love to compare.
 For now though I think you should all see this movie. I am excited to see what they have done with The Girl Who Played with Fire which came out in Sweden last September to just as rave reviews. Can't wait for it to be out here!