Girl with Dragon Tattoo, Fincher version revisited

I watched "The Girl with Dragon Tattoo" (Fincher version) when it was in theaters about ten years ago, and not again until this week. (I still have never seen the Swedish version.)

Watching it again, ready for the most graphic moments that are the only parts many people can remember, I couldn't help but notice just how brilliantly well the detective story worked. This is a clever version of the locked room type puzzle, where the investigator knows he is on an island with someone who must be the killer. And with a variety of false leads, nasty people, and current distractions, it keeps us wondering as well, rather than just watching.

I watched it with the intent to study Fincher's work, and it's great. And listening to the director's commentary, I learned a lot about the process, and appreciated the film even more. (Like pretty much all of his commentary tracks.)

This is an impressive film to fit in barely under three hours. He makes no apologies as he is certain it had to be a five act film, not three, and no part could be taken away without lessening the experience of watching it. And yes, it is the same investigator from 2019's brilliant "Knives Out".

If you enjoy commentary tracks, here Fincher goes into so many details, including difficulties of translating the book, knowing that it was already a successful Swedish film, and having to film in Sweden where they treat the main character as culturally important. He points out lots of minor CGI that we aren't supposed to notice. And lots of tiny details important to the background of the characters that we wouldn't notice while watching the film.

He actually explains the actors motivations and personal touches a lot more than I am used to Fincher doing. He gives the impression that several of the actors brought something to the film that he had not seen on the page, and he knows they made his film better.

With some of the more graphic scenes, he goes over how different decisions were decided upon, to show what he wanted but be comfortable with the censors. Even with the various murder photos that we only see for part of a second.

You get the feeling that while rewatching the film, he is genuinely overjoyed with how it came out. Not that he didn't expect it to be great, but it still exceeded his expectations.