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The Girl Who Played With Fire
The sequel to the fantastic The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, based on the second novel of Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson’s best-selling trilogy.
Lisbeth Salander (again played by Noomi Rapace) is a wanted woman. Two Millennium magazine journalists about to expose the truth about the sex trade in Sweden are brutally murdered, and Salander's prints are on the weapon. She returns to Sweden, after a year abroad, with the authorities after her. Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), editor-in-chief of Millennium, will not believe what he hears on the news. Knowing Salander to be fierce when fearful, he is desperate to get to her before the police, and before she is cornered.
Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, Jörgen Berthage, Tanja Lorentzon, Sofia Ledarp
Directed by Daniel Alfredson ('Varg')
Written by Jonas Frykberg (based on the novel by Stieg Larsson)
World Cinema, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Adaptation | 2hr 9mins | Rated (R16) | contains violence, sexual violence, offensive language and content that may disturb | Origin: Sweden, Germany, Denmark | Language: Swedish, Italian, French with English subtitles | Official Site »
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Flicks review
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3
There are few cinematic heroines who can claim to possess such raw edge and fragile spirit as Lisbeth Salander. But not even the revengeful protagonist of Stieg Larsson's second novel can stand wearing as much war paint as star Noomi Rapace. When torturing her remorseless criminal victims, she paints her face joker-style. Not long after her donning a blonde wig in the opening scenes, it feels a bit silly. There's a Hollywood remake in the works but it might not be necessary, judging by some of this film's familiar conventions. One of the baddies can't feel pain – if that's not an excuse to make a human monster on screen, what is?
That's not to say this fiery flick isn't worth seeing. There's still that sense of edge-of-seat, perpectual action, the graphic scenes of violence are more graphic and the poignant little girl lost Salander showed in the first film is ramped up thanks to an intense performance by Rapace, despite her cartoonish make-up. The film just doesn't quite live up to the excitement and surprise value of the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Part of the reason could be the new director at the helm, Daniel Alfredson, who originally shot this for TV. Although he mostly stays true to the feel of the first film, the story here is much more disjointed – episodic if you like – as journalist Michael Nyqvist (Mikael Blomkvist) and Salander operate as estranged, barely connected individuals. That's a shame because their unlikely chemistry was a pleasure to watch in the first film.
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The people's reviews
13 reviews
Press Reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
The Girl Who Played With Fire is very good, but a step down from “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” if only because that film and its casting were so fresh and unexpected.
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Christchurch Press (Margaret Agnew)
2
A lot happens in two hours but we're left wondering what the point of it all is, especially for those who haven't read the books; there's nothing to hang on to here. With a confusing plot full of holes and only cardboard characters to watch, there's no intrigue, no suspense and certainly no love lost. The girl may play with fire, but she has sadly lost her spark.
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Hollywood Reporter
Noir never has been this dark.
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Los Angeles Times
Though the thriller is in the hands of a different filmmaking team this time led by Swedish director Daniel Alfredson and screenwriter Jonas Frykberg, they've kept the searing intelligence and ruthless bent.
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New York Times
Ms. Rapace, tiny and agile, her steely rage showing now and then the tiniest crack of vulnerability, belongs to another dimension altogether. She makes this movie good enough, but also makes you wish it were much better.
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Rolling Stone (USA)
Relentless suspense allows The Girl Who Played With Fire to hold you in a viselike grip. But it’s the performances of Nyqvist and especially Rapace that keep you coming back for more.
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TVNZ (Darren Bevan)
While The Girl Who Played With Fire is pacier and more of a blockbuster than The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, you may end up feeling that the best is yet to come in the third and final outing.
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Variety (USA)
This subpar Nordic crimer, leaves ample room for improvement for the inevitable U.S. remake.
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