The Girl Who Played with Fire

Horrorphile

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Flickan Som Lekte med Elden (The Girl Who Played with Fire)

September 1st 2010 23:50

The Girl Who Played with Fire movie poster

The second part of Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009), is as taut and compelling as its predecessor, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009). A new director on board, Daniel Alfredson (brother of Tomas, who directed the brilliant Let the Right One In), has added a modicum of difference to the visual narrative, but essentially all the same elements are present, propelled by the superb character-driven storytelling that is at the core of Larrson’s books.

The Girl Who Played with Fire Noomi Repace

Noomi Repace as Lisbeth

The core cast returns: Noomi Repace in the role of damaged goods uber-hacker Lisbeth Salander, and this time the focus is on her and Michael Nyqvist in the role of investigative journalist and all-round good guy Mikael Blomkvist. Blomkvist’s media colleagues remain as peripheral characters, but are there to support him both professionally, and emotionally. There are several new and exciting characters, as the new plot unfolds.

The Girl Who Played with Fire Michael Nyqvist

Michael Nyqvist as Mikael

Blomkvist and his Millennium magazine crew have jumped on board the exposure of an Eastern European sex-trafficking ring. Another investigative journalist and his partner have already done the leg-work, they just need Millennium to frame and publish the findings. But evil forces are at work and the “Johns” who’ve been fingered are none to happy. A triple murder is the consequence, and Lisbeth finds herself the prime suspect. Blomkvist sets out to prove her innocence, and they become dangerously embroiled in sinister goings on that reveal a large part of Lisbeth’s murky past.

The Girl Who Played with Fire Yasmine Garbi and Poalo Roberto

Yasmine Garbi as Miriam and Paolo Roberto as himself

The Girl Who Played with Fire Mikael Spreitz

Mikael Spreitz as Niedermann

There’s a new screenwriter involved in the second installment, Jonas Frykberg, but he works with a similar template to Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg who adapted the first novel. The look of the movie, with its distinctly Eurpoean palette (colder tones and yellow hues), fits the mood of the story and creates a chilly, foreboding atmosphere. Yet the movie isn’t without its warmth and humour (the name on Salander's apartment door, V. Kulla, is a reference to Astrid Lindgren's character Pippi Longstocking and her house Villa Villekulla), even sensuality, especially in a decidedly raunchy love scene between Lisbeth and an old lover, Miriam Wu (Yasmine Garbi). However because of her involvement Miriam, and a boxer (played by Swedish professional and television celebrity Paolo Roberto), become unintentional targets.

Desire never plays far from danger

The central villain of the movie remains elusive, but the darkness is soon illuminated. Not before the raw brute strength of Ronald Niedermann (Mikael Spreitz in a role originally intended for Dolph Lundgren) is presented. This is a pillar of a man who suffers from a nerve disorder that renders him incapable of feeling pain, perfect for a standover man. His presence will shadow the movie to the very end.

Out of the frying pan ...

This is a movie about corruption and salvation, and the weight of one crushing the other. As Blomkvist pursues the exposure of the prostitution merchants he inevitably witnesses collateral damage, for this underworld is a realm much closer to his heart than he first realises. Lisbeth initially panics when she sees her face plastered over “wanted” posters on the street and in the news. Blomkvist waits for her to contact him, they both know they have unfinished business together. Blomkvist understands Lisbeth’s fragility, while Lisbeth feels Blomkvist’s genuine sense of protection.

New millennium mercenary

It is Lisbeth’s father, Alexander Zalachenko aka Zala (Georgi Staykov), that is the catalyst that brings them back together, but not in ideal circumstances. Unlike the intriguing, mischievous epilogue from the first movie, The Girl Who Played with Fire ends in semi-tragedy, with a serious fray of rope. And while a nasty loose end from the first movie is tied up, the bridge to the last part of the trilogy (The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest) is firmly in place, tying the second and third movies together with a blond strand that possesses the deadliest of stings.

While The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo felt wholly original because we’re being introduced to characters, The Girl Who Played with Fire allows the audience to enjoy the pure satisfaction of an unpretentious, riveting thriller imbued with the main character empathy generated from the first movie.

Here’s the trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

8 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by David O'Connell

September 2nd 2010 07:26

Screen Fanatic

Surprised you've looked upon this so favourably Bryn - considering its telemovie origins I've been expecting the worst. Finished up the book a few weeks back and thought it was slightly inferior to the first one.

Comment by Bryn

September 2nd 2010 08:16

Horrorphile

David, I've not read any of the novels, and am curious when you say telemovie origins ... ? All I know are these features and the Fincher remake. This was a very solid thriller, perhaps not as exciting as the first, but only because we're already familiar with the central characters ... However I'm excited about the third part.

Comment by David O'Connell

September 3rd 2010 07:25

Screen Fanatic

I probably phrased that wrong mate - just that the 3 films were all originally made for tv - or the 2nd and 3rd ones were at least. But have been swept up in the phenomenon and been rushed into cinemas worldwide.

I read a lot of crime fiction amongst other things and wouldn't rate Larsson's books as top-drawer by any means but they're certainly fast-paced, compelling tales in their way.

Comment by Bryn

September 3rd 2010 14:45

Horrorphile

I didn't know that ... Very curious ... It makes sense then that the director of the second is also doing the third ... The second still holds up on the big screen, but now that you've planted that seed in my mind ...

Comment by JohnDoe

September 3rd 2010 21:29

Film & TV on DVD

I haven't seen this yet nor read the book so I skipped reading. I did appreciate the first film so there are some expectations here.

Comment by Bryn

September 5th 2010 23:56

Horrorphile

I'll see you back here later then

Comment by ShaunK

September 6th 2010 04:18

Screen Adventure

I've started to see DVd's of these in the shops and only recently found out that I was completely unaware of this craze. How do I know which ones are originals and which ones are remakes?

Are they all good? I'm trying to figure out how I missed the boat so completely on this one...

Comment by Bryn

September 6th 2010 10:06

Horrorphile

I hadn't heard of the novels either until the first movie came out ...
The Swedish movie adaptations are the original move versions. David Fincher is directing a Hollywood remake of the first movie, but unsure if remakes of the other two movies have been green-lit.

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