The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Opens!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, a gripping thriller based on the first book of the wildly popular "Millennium" trilogy by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, opens today. Michael Nyqvist plays Mikael Blomkvist, disgraced journalist, awaiting jail time for a libel suit, who accepts a case to investigate the 40 year old disappearance of the young niece from a dysfunctional powerful industrial family. His search for clues brings him into contact with a mysterious computer hacker, Lisabeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a punked out girl with piercings and tattoos who becomes his close ally and their inquiry uncovers a monstrous family secret. Director Niels Arden Oplev successfully distills the quiet fire from the book on screen thanks to a spot on cast. Michael Nykqvist has the requisite world-weary intelligence and compassion and Noomi Rapace has the guardedness of Lisbaeth but also the vulnerability and tenacious spirit of this fascinating fictional character who became the heart and soul of the trilogy. A relief for fans of the novel who can forgo "the book was much better" phrase for once. This mystery is as devastating, suspenseful and satisfying on screen.