What is it that makes a film a box office success? Is it the combination of stars, script and budget? Some would have you think so. Alright, I concede. Those things are all true. The general public wants to see their favorite stars doing what they do best in films that look like they were manufactured at an Apple store. Put a high-powered machine gun and some machine gun-like dialogue together with a Will Smith or Tom Cruise and you've got yourself a recipe for big money. Be afraid though average viewer. For you this cheque will likely bounce.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a crime-thriller delivered to our shores from Sweden. The film is the highest grossing in Sweden box-office history so it comes highly recommended or is popularity in Sweden the best litmus test for overseas success? If a film makes money in Sweden, does it really make a sound? If The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is evidence enough it certainly does. Just not always in tune. The film is mosaic of extreme gratuity and mainstream conventions. It heads down a certain path, one that ultimately cannot be backpedaled, and then parks itself into a corner. With each scene the movie evolves from a dark, intriguing film into a conventional serial killer thriller. That is to say revelations rely on twists rather than intrigue — and always at the most opportune moment (Oh my! He's in danger!). This is where the film hiccups.
When a film is a box-office success in any country, it's because it appeals to the average fan. People who only watch the films they anticipate they'll enjoy. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is unique in that it blends the thematic inventiveness of a foreign film with the conventions of a mainstream film. Which is to say its message is inconsistent. For every hit, there is a miss. So if a film makes money anywhere outside North America, does it make a sound? Yes, it does — every once and a while.
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