Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 2 ratings
Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist investigates the disappearance of a weary patriarch's niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander. As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.
Fincher's adaptation is visually stunning with Reznor/Ross's score complementing the ice-cold Swedish aesthetic beautifully. Rooney Mara delivers a career-defining performance as Lisbeth Salander, earning genuine praise alongside Craig's solid Blomkvist. The cinematography is exceptional — Fincher and Jeff Cronenweth craft a distinctive, frigid visual palette. However, as a remake of an already-adapted novel, Novelty is constrained; the story beats are familiar to many. The plot is engrossing but somewhat sprawling, and the ending deflates slightly after the mystery's resolution, with the Blomkvist/Vanger fallout feeling anticlimactic. Acting stands out as the film's clearest strength.