The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is dense, fusing a procedural mystery with a stylized character study. There are themes of institutionalized misogyny, abuse, social pressures, classism, trauma, and power. The plot is thick with investigation, tension, twists, development, growth, and motivation. Some elements can feel stodgy, convoluted, distant, unnecessary, unsatisfying, challenging, and incomplete. Still, the acting is emotionally anchoring with palpable confidence, layers, body language, personality, tone, anxiety, chemistry, commitment, reactions, pain, relatability, and vulnerability. Overall, Dragon Tattoo is a bold look at the historical inequalities we've come to accept.
Technically, Dragon Tattoo is perfectionism. Despite a bloated structure, the editing pulses with montages, inserts, pacing, intercuts, cross cuts, flashbacks, and momentum. Its stark sound offers split cuts, symbolic diegetics, layers, risers, emphasis, echoes, silence, and fades. The sleek imagery adds desaturation, motion, framing, depth, texture, focus, lighting, composition, angles, and symmetry. Its music is dynamic, moody, suspenseful, and juxtaposing. The production design is detailed, thematic, and characterized. Its cast is recognizable, deep, and career-defining. The effects use stunts, fire, gore, and subtle CGI. Thus, Dragon Tattoo is difficult but uncompromised craft.
Writing: 7/10
Direction: 10/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Acting: 9/10
Editing: 9/10
Sound: 10/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 8/10
Overall Score: 8.8/10
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