If The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, were an indie, would it do well? - IndieTalk

harmonica44 · 06-09-2012, 01:30 AM

Would it still be well received not based on a previous book series? Would people still like it if were an independent film by complete unknowns? Just curious.

jax_rox · 06-09-2012, 02:00 AM

There's two different questions there:

I think you'd find a lot of people don't necessarily know the books, or have heard about them and haven't read them so I don't know that the existence of the book would change the reception of the film too much.
If it had been made by indie nobody's well then who nknows.

Cracker Funk · 06-09-2012, 02:03 AM

Are you asking this because it has a rape scene?

harmonica44 · 06-09-2012, 02:48 AM

Uhhh no?? lol

rayw · 06-09-2012, 03:38 AM

I didn't read the books (and won't) but loved TATTOO & FIRE, didn't care for HORNET'S NEST.

So, here's one vote yeah.

(I'm totally "Meh... " about the quite popular Fincher version.)

viz · 06-09-2012, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmonica44

Would it still be well received not based on a previous book series? Would people still like it if were an independent film by complete unknowns? Just curious.

Are you taking about the recent remake of this movie?
The original European movie I thought was a bit of an Indie. I really thought it was good. Whay did they want to do a big budget remake?

Cheers,
Gregg

don patterson · 06-09-2012, 07:50 AM

I loved the books (Män som hatar kvinnor). Really got into the 'rich' characters, arcs, plots, subplots. I watched the Swedish trilogy because I loved the continuing story (words on paper). The Swedish trilogy films did not do the books justice. Left out far too much story and character development. I then watched the 'Hollywood' remake. Much better but still lacking.

I would probably have seen the movies if they had been an original screenplay and not an adaption -- but as with several other books to movies (and series like Harris's e.g. Silence Of The Lambs) I would not have rushed to view due to mind set.

I am up and down on books to movies -- I read the Hunger Games series (a while ago -- as they were printed) but have not yet viewed the first movie. Eventually everything is eventual. Even death. Unfortunately, too many people do not read these days. They miss out on so much. As creative people, we should use all our senses in coordination with our personal grey matter and utilize our individual imaginations behind another's words... not just seeing and hearing and reacting to a set period of time.

My two cents. I am not rich, famous (or know anyone rich or famous). I just make stuff for the fun of it.

Dreadylocks · 06-09-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

Are you asking this because it has a rape scene?

We need a like button.

Quote:

Originally Posted by viz

Are you taking about the recent remake of this movie?
The original European movie I thought was a bit of an Indie. I really thought it was good. Whay did they want to do a big budget remake?

Cheers,
Gregg

Because the original isn't in English, and they knew they could make mucho dinero if they broaden the audience.

rayw · 06-09-2012, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreadylocks

We need a like button.

Alternates:

Dreadylocks · 06-09-2012, 08:24 AM

Ray to the rescue!

NickClapper · 06-09-2012, 09:35 AM

The original GWTDT movie was designed to be a Swedish TV mini-series but, due to production coinciding with the book series' explosion of international popularity, was released as a movie. I think that some of the TV production values, writing and pacing come through in the film version and that's one of the reasons why I think that Fincher's version is actually a much stronger cinematic experience.

The real question that I suspect harmonica is asking, as he has many times before, is whether he can get away with showing explicit acts of sexual violence in his film. The answer is the same as always: if it is artistically and morally justified then it will work, if it is not then you will have a problem. The questions you should be asking aren't these convoluted dissections of rape in mainstream cinema but 'why is the rape scene essential to my movie?' and 'how can I portray it delicately but not rob it of its power?'.

mlesemann · 06-09-2012, 09:50 AM

I loved the books, and like the Swedish version slightly better than Fincher's.

I think the rape question (for me, speaking as a woman but NOT claiming to speak for all or most women), is not only how the rape is shot but also the overall context. Lisbeth Salander is the main character, and we already know her by the time we see that. The intended identification of the viewer is with her, not the rapist. and she certainly gets even with her attacker. So I never felt (when reading or watching) that either the rape or the rapist were being glorified.

JoshL · 06-09-2012, 09:58 AM

Given that the book spent over 30 weeks on the NYT best seller list, I'm going to say no. Even if people didn't read it (and lots of people didn't), people had HEARD of it. It was kinda hard to miss.

I'd take that a step further...if the author hadn't died before the books were published, most people might not have even heard of them. I read the first two books (saw half the first movie too...haven't gotten around to finishing it, and I'd like to before seeing the Fincher version). They're okay, but they're not particularly well written. They don't really stand out in the genre. Admittedly, crime thrillers aren't my favorite genre, but it's a popular one and there are lots of better books being written all the time. Take away the author wish fulfillment (finance journalist sleeps with EVERYONE!) and mac shilling (ooh! look, an ipod! it holds lots of songs and you should buy one! ...oh, and there's other computers too), and it doesn't really stand out that much. Interesting enough for one read, but I don't think I'll ever re-read them.

Back on topic: Dragon Tattoo is a modern cultural touchstone. People have heard of it, and have ideas about it, no matter if they've read it or not. No, an unknown indie will not do that well (though maybe proportionately well...they spent 90 million on it). Hunger Games would not have done so well if the books weren't so popular. Avengers? You've got a few years of films and 40 years of comics building popularity for that. This is why so many adaptations get made (it works both ways, too. Novelizations of films, video games, comic book adaptations, etc)

WalterB · 06-09-2012, 10:27 AM

What if... hard to get a real anwser to such questions.
I think they already increased the changes of succes by changing the title to The Girl with the dragon tattoo.
The original title translates as 'Men who hate women' (and part 2: 'The girl who played with fire').

I haven't seen the Fincher version.
The Swedish version is already quite intense, especially for a TV-series. (It's not very 'cinema' but the acting is quite strong.)

To get back to the question: it's easier to get attention with something people recognize.

BTW, go watch the BBC Wallander series.

directorik · 06-09-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmonica44

Would it still be well received not based on a previous book series? Would people still like it if were an independent film by complete unknowns? Just curious.

Yes.

If that exact same story was made by unknowns for very little money
with unknown actors it would still find an audience. People would still
like it.