The Girl with the Delayed Reaction

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, film version, came out in December of 2011. Technically, it came out in 2009, but that was the original version, and this blog mostly concerns the version that is spoken in my first language.  The film was directed by David Fincher and stars Rooney Mara, whom he had just directed in The Social Network. Yes, she is the conventionally pretty college girlfriend in the beginning. Who knew? David Fincher is one of my top favorite directors. Upon reading film reviews for Dragon Tattoo, I kept running into the words "violent" and "graphic", and kept brushing these words off. Fincher is known for works such as the Fight Club, and serial killer thriller Seven. With this guy, "violent and graphic", is pretty much a given.

Maybe this is why I like him. Maybe I consider the words "violent" and "graphic" to be substitutes for "cathartic".  This is arguably, why I go to the movies. We live in a high-stress society in which we are continually and ironically being instructed, not to freak out. If I don't get an A grade, I am told not to freak out. When there is no money in my bank account, even I am sometimes guilty of commanding myself not to freak out. We have even gone so far as to adopt that pinnacle of design, the wartime logo and slogan of England, "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON." Ours is a twee society that reeks of cupcakes and lip gloss and ribbon and whipped cream-flavored vodka. What happened to blood and guts and glory? When I am watching Lisbeth literally sew the male protagonist's skin back together, no one can violate the sanctity of a dark theater by turning to me, and telling me to calm down. As much as I wanted to throw up my Alamo Drafthouse pizza during the rape scene, nothing could quell my sick smirk when she raped him right back. As it turns out, Lisbeth herself is graphic and violent. And good for her. She is one of the most awesome female characters that I can ever remember. I have always loved Scarlett in Gone with the Wind, and Marla Singer in Fight Club, but there has never been such a vicious heroin as Lisbeth Salander.

I am ready for the sequels, and may just have to brave the original Swedish versions in the meantime. Who knows, maybe I'll somehow find some spare time and just read the books. Either way,  I appreciate the darkest of fiction. I don't necessarily need everything sugarcoated like an M&M. Because what always happens with the sugar coating of M&Ms? It always gets messy. Sometimes, I just need to revel in directors such as Fincher and Aronfosky who skip straight to the mess. Sometimes I just need to be allowed to freak out.

"No, it's okay. You can nod because it's true. I am insane." - Lisbeth