Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, The (2010; Review)

Posted By Dennis Willis on Oct 29, 2010 | 0 comments

GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, THE (10/29/10; Suspense, Swedish language) Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre, Annika Hallin, Sofia Ledarp, Jacob Ericksson, Niklas Hjulström, Anders Ahlbom SCR: Nikolaj Arcel, Rasmus Heisterberg; based on the novel by Stieg Larsson DIR: Daniel Alfredson MPAA: R for strong violence, some sexual material and brief Language. 2 hours 27 mins BOX: $41,810,458

Although the events of Part II (The Girl Who Played with Fire) suggested a degree of closure, there is still the matter of what happens after a vigilante guns down her adversaries. There is also the bigger issue of a vast conspiracy that reaches back decades and involves Lisbeth (Rapace), who is bound for a very public trial.

This third installment of “The Millennium Trilogy” changes direction again to become a courtroom thriller, complete with surprise evidence, shady witnesses and surprising revelations. It’s no less confusing than Part II, but that’s a credit to Larsson’s dense web of corruption and unsavory characters found lurking beneath the streets of Stockholm.

But once again, all eyes are on Rapace. She’s onscreen less than before and has little to no dialogue. But every little victory and personal expression (like arriving to her own defense trial dressed in leather, spikes and a Mohawk) is reason for cheering. (Music Box)