Sweden to Hollywood: We Got This

[snurri]

I have never read the Stieg Larsson books, but today I mainlined the first two Swedish film adaptations based on them--they're on Netflix streaming, in case anyone is wondering, and the third will be streaming as of January 25th. They are better than I was expecting, and I have no doubt that the American versions will be inferior. (Actually that last bit I was pretty sure of before I watched the film, but then I am still bitter about "Let the Right One In.") The main takeaway from these films is HOLY SHIT NOOMI RAPACE. She has to carry the films, and she does more than that; she fucking lifts them up over her head, runs a hundred miles under their weight, and hurls them into orbit.

Comments

[mastadge.livejournal.com]

Normally I'd agree, but I found Dragon Tattoo solid but unexceptional (haven't seen the others), and with David Fincher making the remake, I think there's a fair chance it'll be superior to the original for a change. Only Rooney Mara doesn't strike me as being able to fill Noomi Rapace's boots, even if they do have most of the same letters in their names, so we'll see.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I'm skeptical of Fincher; I can't help thinking of the glossy grittiness of "Fight Club," where these films felt very real to me. The exteriors in particular looked very un-Hollywood, and I very much doubt that the Americans will be able to restrain the urge to pretty everything up.

[porphyre.livejournal.com]

I know, right? BAM!

[snurri.livejournal.com]

The end of the second film? SO BADASS.

[rnb.livejournal.com]

So are they actually good or just not bad? I know approximately zero about them apart from what I've heard in the media, and my takeaway is always "this is supposed to be really good, but a lot of people liked the Da Vinci Code, too."

So I'm hesitant.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Rapace is excellent, and the character of Lisbeth Salander is well done in a way that heroines rarely are; on the other hand, the plots are a bit ridiculous, and in the first one there were a couple of points that I saw coming a long way off. If you can overlook the latter, as I did, then I think they're good; if you can't, you'd probably go with "not bad."

[livia-llewellyn.livejournal.com]

I've seen all three movies. I am Team Rapace, all the fucking way.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

She's going to be in the Sherlock Holmes sequel. I'm sure they won't let her be this badass, but still.

[jess-ka.livejournal.com]

Yup. I have actually been counting the days until the 25th.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I cannot WAIT.

[jenfu.livejournal.com]

"She has to carry the films, and she does more than that; she fucking lifts them up over her head, runs a hundred miles under their weight, and hurls them into orbit."

This is my favorite thing I've read today.

What I love about these movies is, as you say, how real they are. How not set-dressed and make-up covered and smoothed out and airbrushed they are. It's startling at first to an American sensibility that expects shiny unblemished perfection, but then it is unspeakably wonderful to watch. Also, BOOM! POW!

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Yeah, for the first half hour or so I was distracted by Michael Nyqvist's craggy complexion, but after a while I forgot about it. It certainly didn't make his acting any worse.

[v-verticordia.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to see this post! I loved the swedish films (haven't read the books either) and am already leery of the Fincher version (although I do love Fincher). I can't believe Daniel Craig is going to play Blomkvist. I'll never be able to see Blomkvist in hard bodied Daniel Craig! It's always going to be sweet, paunchy Nyqvist for me! And ditto everything you say about Rapace. She's the original Fury!