The Girl with the Dragon Tatto[2011]

Usually, I am a big fan of David Fincher's work- I haven't seen everything, but most of it (or what I managed to watch) is really good: it's obscure, the shots are great, it always has a dark, twisted plot, a great soundtrack and the performances are fantastic. This movie fits into those lines.....and that's about it. For me, this experience was underwhelming and I must admit, I was a little dissapointed.

Now, I admit, it's not entirely Fincher's fault. The script, albeit good, with twists and turns, an almost replica of the book (but with the necessary cuts), still feels too much. As a reader of the book, knowing what to expect, I was patient enough to sit through it, but I must imagine that for the first-timers, the first hour was a little boring and afterwards, the unveiling of the actual truth and mistery, during the second hour, was stretched out too much. After Mikael finds out the names and numbers are biblical and asks for Lisbeth's help, things get interesting, but not quite; I was still expecting for a faster pace, a change in dynamics, but all I got was louder, more somber music and the usual scene A, cut to scene B reel- the only good parts where the one where the story of Mikael interwines with the one of Lisbeth, seeing what they were doing in the same time. Maybe it's not the scriptwriter's fault, maybe I should just criticise the book, who knows, but that aspect really bothered me.

As I said, in theory, you could still see and have Fincher's trademark characteristic. The soundtrack was very good, intense and perfect for the movie, the special effects were great and I loved the opening sequence- different from the movie, but still special and very interesting. The cinematography and the directing style were appropriate for this kind of movie and it did gave it an extra edge, but I still wasn't impressed.

One thing that I have to admit whole-heartly- Rooney Mara owned that part. From the simple, almost boring girl in the Social Network, to Lisbeth Salander, that was a huge transformation and I am sure that road was a journey she will not forget. Knowing that David likes to do at least 20 takes of every scene, the rape part must have been horrible- her performance during that moment was hard to watch and listen. As I said, she completely transformed herself in Lisbeth and seeing her latest appeareances, I guess she hasn't managed to shake her off.

Daniel Craig also delivers a very good performance, cold, but entertaining and unique. Christopher Plummer and Stellan Stargard, as grandfather and nephew, are superb, especially Stellan, who gives Martin just the right attitude, not too maniac, but with the right amount of craziness and intelligence.

Overall, although I admit, it is a good movie, I just didn't feel it, I was never in awe, it didn't made me flinch, I wasn't eagerly waiting for the next shot, I wasn't surprised, and no, I don't think it has to do with the fact I read the book, it was just not perfect. I left the theatre saying "yeah, it was ok, but nothing special" and the people around me agreed. My sister says it was too creepy and sadistical for her taste (she is more of a Breaking Dawn girl) and my mother, who has read the book, said it was good, but also too dark and violent, but she liked it overall.

What did you think of it? Am I wrong?

No clear frontrunners for the awards madness in 2011/12?

Is it just me or this year is shaping up to be a very interesting one, full of surprises? Usually by this time you already have some clear favourites, especially in the acting department (like Natalie Portman and Colin Firth in 2010/11), but for this season I really don't see anything clear in front of me!Ok, I am exaggerating....maybe Albert Brooks for Supporting Actor and MAYBE the Artist for Best Picture, but the others are pretty open!

Let's take some examples!
Best Actor: In my opinion, this is the one to watch- there are so many good performances that you can't really know which way it can go! Brad Pitt in Moneyball or Tree of Life, Ryan Gosling in Drive, George Clooney in The Descendants, Michael Fassbender in Shame, Jean Dujardin in the Artist, Michael Shannon in Take Shelter, Joseph Gordon Levitt in 50/50, Leonardo Dicaprio as J.Edgar Hoover and so on! For me, and from what I have seen, they all have an equal chance of getting those big statues (Golden Globes, SAG, Oscar), but no one is a frontrunner yet and I like it! I, persoanlly, am rooting for either Fassbender or Pitt(he deserves one).

Who are the winners so far?
NYCC- Brad Pitt for both Moneyball and Tree of Life
National Board of Review- George Clooney in The Descendants
BIFA- Michael Fassbender in Shame
WAFCA- George Clooney in the Descendants
BSFC- Brad Pitt, runner ups George Clooney and Michael Fassbender
NYFCO2011- Michael Shannon for Take Shelter, runners up Michael Fassbender(Shame) and Gary Oldman(TTSS)
LAFilmCritics- Michael Fassbender for everything this year, runner up Michael Shannon for Take Shelter
San Francisco- Gary Oldman for TTSS

Best actress: Again, another strong category! Some say Meryl Streep has it in the bag with The Iron Lady, but when you are in a category with the superb Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe, or the loveable Viola Davis in The Help, not to mention the stunning Tilda Swinton(We need to talk about Kevin), you can't be sure of anything. Other notable performances that can surprise are Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) or Elizabeth Olsen in MMMM. Oh, and Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs looks fantastic, maybe she will get nominated as well, although I don't know its release date. I can't bet on anything here, either, although I am hoping for either Williams or Swinton or maybe Viola Davis, but I don't think so. You need an incredible strong performance if you are a lesser known actress to be considered above women like Streep or Swinton, and, although I loved Viola in the movie, I don't think it's strong enough.

Who are the winners so far?
NYCC- Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady
National Board of Review- Tilda Swinton for We need to talk about Kevin
WAFCA- Michelle Williams in My week with Marilyn
BSFC- Michelle Williams for My week with Marilyn
NYFCO- Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, runner up Viola Davis for The Help
LAFilmCritics- Yun Lung-hee for Poetry(WTF?), runner up Kirsten Dunst for Melancholia
San Francisco- Tilda Swinton for We need to talk about Kevin

Best Supporting Actor: I thought this one would be easier, as many of the raves went to Albert Brooks(Drive) early on into the awards season, but Christopher Plummer (Beginners) still has a shot, and I wouldn't count out John Hawkes(MMMM), either. I am hoping for some Nick Nolte appreciation in the following months, as his part in Warrior was amazing.

Who are the winners so far?
NYCC- Albert Brooks for Drive
National Board of Review- Christopher Plummer in Beginners
WAFCA- Albert Brooks in Drive
BSFC- Albert Brooks in Drive
NYFCO2011- Albert Brooks in Drive
LAFilmCritics- Christopher Plummer in Beginners
San Francisco- Albert Brooks for Drive

Best Supporting Actress: Similar to the category above, there are 2 or 3 clear frontrunners that are battling for the statue- Jessica Chastain(in The Help or Tree of Life of Take Shelter), Octavia Spencer in The Help and suprisingly, Shailene Woodley is starting to raise up her stakes for her role in The Descendants. I don't think she will win(the age sometimes is an issue, as they think the younger actors have enough time to collect awards), but she is a contender. Both Chastain and Spencer are wonderful and I will be happy either way.

Who are the winners so far?
NYCC- Jessica Chastain for The Help, Tree of Life and Take Shelter
National Board of Review- Shailene Woodley for The Descendants
WAFCA- Octavia Spencer in The Help
BSFC- Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids
LAFilmCritics: Jessica Chastain for basically everything she has done this year
NYFCO2011: Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids
San Francisco- Vanessa Redgrave for Coriolanus

Best Director: This race is tricky, as most of time features the best, world-wide known directors, and the debutans rarely get more then one spot at the table. And it's a pity, since this year has been fantastic in this department. I am especially excited and am rooting for Sean Durkin(MMMM), Nicholas W Refn(Drive) and Steve McQueen(Shame). These 3 have blown me away with their new, fresh, interesting, unusual, yet fascinating and beautiful style- I love them all and I can't wait to see more films made by them. But you really can't count out people like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Alexander Payne, David Fincher or Michel Hazanavicius. If it would be me, I would choose anyone of the first three, obviously.

Who are the winners so far?
NYCC- Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
National Board of Review- Martin Scorsese for Hugo
WAFCA- Martin Scorsese for Hugo
BSFC- Martin Scorsese for Hugo
NYFCO 2011- Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
LAFilmCritics: Terence Mallick for Tree of Life, runner up Martin Scorses for Hugo
San Francisco- Terrence Malick for Tree of Life

Best Picture: This is the category where you almost every year get surprised! I didn't expect The King's Speech to win last year, or Hurt Locker before that and I didn't expect Lord of the Rings to win in his year(nor did I want it in every situation), so this year's winner is going in the same direction. Potential surprises: Hugo, The Artist, Midnight in Paris, Drive, Margin Call, Beginners, The Descendants, Tree of Life, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2(call me crazy, but I wish this would win, just to celebrate their glorious path), War Horse, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and so on.

Who are the winners so far?
NYCC- The Artist
National Board of Review- Hugo
WAFCA- The Artist
BSFC- The Artist

NYFCO- The Artist
LAFilmCritics: The Descendants, runner up Tree of Life
San Francisco- The Tree of Life

And now some smaller, less important, but still great categories- they are my favorites!
Some have the Ensemble Award, which I always like and from what I've seen, Margin Call and The Help are ahead, although Beginners got it at the NYCC and Bridesmaids(surprise there) in WAFCA and NYFCO, Carnage won the BSFC one. That's an interesting one, as well!

I also enjoy the Breakthrough award- it usually adds some more pressure on the main acting categories. This year there was some great talent
Gotham: Felicity Jones(Like Crazy)
National Board of Reviews: Felicity Jones(Like Crazy) and Rooney Mara(Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
PSIFFF- Octavia Spencer in the Help
NYFCO2011: Jessica Chastain

And let's not forget Best Debut Director
Gotham: Dee Rees for Pariah
National Board of Reviews: J.C. Chandor for Margin Call
NYFCO2011: Joe Cornish for Attack the block
BSFC: Sean Durkin for MMMM


The real game begins with the Golden Globes! When we see the nominations for that, we will know what to expect for this awards season! I think they are released in December, right?

What do you guys think? Do you have any favourites? Any "God, I hope X doesn't win, I hate him/her/it"? Let me know in the comments!