Fincher Countdown Part 8 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Some Like It Scott

Hello everyone and welcome to Some Like It Scott's latest limited series: the Fincher Countdown. Each week in the lead up to David Fincher's latest film, Mank, the two Scotts and countdown special guest, Jay Habib, will be working their way through most* of David Fincher's filmography in chronological order, starting from his non-franchise debut, the neo-noir psychological detective thriller, SEVEN, leading all the way to 2014's GONE GIRL. Join us each week as we talk about a different Fincher film!

On part 8 of the countdown, Scott, Scott, and Jay revisit the penultimate film in the countdown, the 2011 psychological crime thriller, based on the best-selling Swedish novel of the same name, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Starring Rooney Mara as the titular computer-hacking girl with the dragon tattoo, Lisbeth Salander, and Daniel Craig as disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomqvist, hired by Christopher Plummer's, Henrik Vanger, an aging wealthy businessman who is haunted by his niece's disappearance from 40 years prior. The film opens with Blomqvist's conviction for libel against business magnate, Hans-Erik Wennerström, leaving his journalistic reputation and career in ruins. Soon after, Vanger hires Blomqvist as a final attempt to solve the mystery of his missing niece, Harriet, who disappeared from the remote Swedish island of their estate 40 years before the events of the film. As a part of this investigation, Blomqvist eventually must enlist the support of the mysterious computer-hacking woman, Salander, who (illegally) ran a background check on Blomqvist before Vanger hired him. However, Salander has (many) problems of her own, and ultimately both Blomqvist and Salander need each other to solve the mystery of Harriet Vanger's disappearance and to navigate a world bent on ostracizing and exploiting people like Salander. The countdown trio give their thoughts on Mara's eccentric performance, the mystery plot's effectiveness in telling an engrossing tale, and whether the themes of the violence against and exploitation of women are effective.