The Girl Who Played with Fire is the second chapter in the infamous Millennium series: after The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and serves as a bridge to The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Stieg Larsson's trilogy has received considerable publicity given the nature of the crime novel and speculation over Larsson's death shortly after delivering the manuscripts for publication. The Swedish film adaptations were well-received and have finally been given an international reception, bolstered by the bestselling novel series, David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remake and the creation of a Millennium TV series.
The medium of crime thriller is generally better suited to television as demonstrated by Chris Carter's ground-breaking The X-Files and Millennium and the CSI television series.The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo overcame this notion with its one foot in the grave - transcending the realm of TV drama with an engrossing and enigmatic murder mystery akin to Twin Peaks. However, this is where The Girl Who Played with Fire trips up. A new director and more characters seem to lose the focus and intensity of the first chapter, reverting to the realm of television and capturing a straight-down-the-line, dark, brutal woman-on-the-run crime thriller.
Mikael Blomkvist (Nyqvist) and Lisbeth Salander (Rapace) return for the sequel as Blomkvist's involvement with the Millennium group deepens and Salander's cover is blown after a spate of unresolved murders get pinned on the now infamous hacker. The dark attitude has evaporated to reveal a softer more feminine side to Salander, but her repressed memories of her father and her implication in a series of killings force her back to the dark side as Blomkvist tries to clear her name.
The Girl Who Played with Fire marks the second chapter in the Lisbeth Salander saga and isn't as enchanting as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Perhaps we know too much about these characters and the novelty has worn off? The tone just isn't the same with Daniel Alfredson at the helm as director. The story just seems to loosen its belt, there are one or two unintentional laughs and the film just lacks the vivid storytelling and sharp visuals of the first chapter with Niels Arden Oplev in charge.
Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace have a firm grip on Blomkvist and Salander, and it's a good thing the trilogy was shot in such quick succession. They continue where they left off... both very distinct and obsessive personalities, both on a quest for some sort of redemption. However, the combination of direction and editing only give us a glimpse into their lives and it's a case of action and reaction rather than channeling the story through them.
Overall, The Girl Who Played with Fire is an entertaining follow-up to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. There's enough going on to keep the audience guessing with solid co-lead performances anchoring the drama. Stieg Larsson's story is compelling enough with just about any director, so it's just a little shaggy round the edges, ending on a climax rather than tapering off like part one. All in all, The Girl Who Played with Fire makes a solid, competent bridging sequel, despite its shortcomings and sets the scene for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.
The bottom line: Gripping.
