The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)

The second in the Millennium trilogy of films, based on the hugely popular books, wastes little time in getting down to business. I saw, and really liked, the first film adaptation, and as such had hopes that this would continue in the same vein. Unfortunately whilst it is a competent and enjoyable enough thriller the film lacks the cinematic edge and gritty spark of the original leaving it feeling somewhat muted in comparison.
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The film begins a year after the original, with Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace, again impressive in the lead role) returning to Sweden after a sojourn around Europe where she disappeared after the events of the first film. Once back she seeks to re-establish contact with her friends and family only to find herself framed for a triple homicide, which is also linked to the latest investigation being carried out by Mikael Blomkvist's Millennium magazine. Finding themselves inextricably linked the pair work to uncover the truth and free Lisbeth's name, and also uncover some of the darker secrets of her past.
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Originally released as a TV movie it is easy to see the roots of this throughout the film. Where the first had a real sense of scope and scale, The Girl Who Played with Fire feels somewhat pedestrian, doing nothing with any real flare. However it wasn't just the technical level that I felt let the film down, whilst the plot is interesting, and I did appreciate how it tied up some of the seemingly unrelated plot threads from the first film (Lisbeth's probation worked for example), it's insistence on keeping the two main characters separate for the vast majority of the film's running time is a decision that hurts the film. I understand the dramatic reasoning for this, and assuming this is a faithful adaptation then this is also a problem inherent to the source material, but a large part of what worked well in the original was the interplay between the characters and seeing them play off each other, and work together. Here they act independently throughout, it is a long time before they even realise they are working on the same case, and even then the plot threads remain disparate. Independent of each other neither character was really strong enough to carry my interest in the film and as such I found it much less engaging that it might have been.
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So whilst not a bad film, per se, it still feels like a disappointment. Having not read the books I can only assess the film as such and whilst I am suitably intrigued in checking out the final film, I can't admit to being as engaged by these characters and stories as so many seem to be. I enjoy a good detective thriller and there are enough tense and exciting sequences to redeem the film somewhat at the end, there is just nothing that feels especially new and interesting which is a shame. The first film, whilst not revolutionary, felt somehow dangerous and had a palpable sense of mystery that feels lacking here. Some of the brutal violence remains, but again it seems somehow tempered and less effective.
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Those looking for a crime thriller could do plenty worse and there is a fair amount to enjoy here, but for best results go in with your expectations suitably lowered, as I shall now do for the final chapter in the trilogy.