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'The Girl Who Played With Fire' review

Can't wait for Hollywood's take? This should keep you fired up

By Alexis L. Loinaz

Metromix
July 8, 2010

Critic's Rating:

Noomi Rapace (Credit: Music Box Films)

Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander in "The Girl Who Played With Fire."

Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist in "The Girl Who Played With Fire."

(L-R) Yasmine Garbi as Mariam Wu and Paolo Roberto as Paolo Roberto in "The Girl Who Played With Fire."

Micke Spreitz as Ronald Niedermann in "The Girl Who Played With Fire."

(L-R) Micke Spreitz as Ronald Niedermann and Yasmine Garbi as Mariam Wu in "The Girl Who Played With Fire."

The Girl Who Played With Fire

Running time:: 129 minutes

Rated:: R

Cast:

Noomi Rapace -

Lisbeth Salander

Michael Nyqvist -

Mikael Blomkvist

Alexandra Eisenstein -

Journalist

Director:: Daniel Alfredson

Genre:: Mystery

Overall User Rating:: (8 ratings)

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In this sequel to "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," two journalists are found shot to death while investigating a highly connected prostitution ring. The prime suspect: Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), the brilliant but damaged computer hacker at the center of a larger, burgeoning saga. Her only ally is crusading journalist (and onetime lover) Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), who is convinced she's not a murderer. With Lisbeth on the run—and Mikael racing fast to find her—both crash head-on into dark secrets from Lisbeth's past.

The buzz: "Fire" is the second of three international hit movies based on the late Stieg Larsson's wildly popular Swedish book trilogy—a bona fide pop-culture phenomenon, selling 40 million copies worldwide. Although "Dragon Tattoo" was a U.S. arthouse success earlier this year, most media attention has focused on an upcoming Hollywood adaptation from filmmaker David Fincher, complete with A-list casting rumors like Brad Pitt, Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman.

The verdict: Dark and disturbing, this is a richly satisfying sequel that smartly builds on the groundwork of the first film. Whereas "Dragon Tattoo" served up appetizing but brisk snippets from Salander's harrowing past, "Fire" is a true showcase for the character. This, folks, is where things start to get meaty—a savory feast of dysfunction, violence, trauma and vengeance. It also highlights just how perfectly cast these Swedish films are. Rapace—with her facial piercings, harsh eyeliner and androgynous gait—brings a punk ferocity to the bisexual Salander. She's a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in really cool goth glam. The movie's main drawback, though, is the same one that plagued "Dragon Tattoo": a narrative so densely packed with ancillary subplots that the movie ultimately feels muddled and needlessly stretched out. After it's over, you may look back and wonder, "Did that really have anything to do with the story?" Maybe not. But when you have a character as deeply complex and magnetic as Salander, does it really matter?

Did you know? Despite the hullabaloo surrounding the Hollywood remake, there's one name you won't see on the casting shortlist: Rapace. Although playing Salander earned her international acclaim, she's made it clear she has no interest in reprising the role.