Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a retelling of the Conan Doyle stories starring everyone's favourite violin-playing, deerstalker-wearing, calabash-smoking detective. Except that, in this movie, Sherlock favours artfully dishevelled Victorian clothing over tweed and deerstalkers, smokes an unobtrusive wooden pipe, and only uses his violin as part of an unusual experiment involving flies. Yes, for this is Guy Ritchie's perspective on Sherlock Holmes, and it won't be to everyone's taste. In this episode Holmes' trusty friend Dr Watson (here played by Jude Law) is about to get married and leave their bachelor pad in Baker Street. However, as Watson is about to depart, an unexpected enemy reappears. Lord Blackwood, a practitioner of the dark arts, was hanged and has now apparently risen from the dead, with the intention of recruiting the government to his evil secret society. Watson and Holmes must discover Blackwood's methods and prevent him from murdering further victims than the five he was hanged for. Another fly in the ointment is Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) an American master-criminal and former squeeze of Holmes', who has been recruited by the mysterious Professor Moriarty to distract Holmes from the case.

This is another film of which I had high expectations and, unlike Avatar, it didn't quite live up to them. However, it's still a very enjoyable romp. I've never read the original books so I couldn't begin to tell you what kind of sacrilege Ritchie has committed with these characters, other than the obvious. However, this also meant I had few pre-conceptions of what the story should be like. The plot may not be particularly amazing but it all just about fits together and there are plenty of amusing set-pieces and action sequences to keep up the pace. Robert Downey Jr presents a fresh take on Holmes as a tortured genius who spends his downtime lazing around his rooms experimenting with drugs. I'm a big fan of Downey Jr so I enjoyed his portrayal of Holmes, but I couldn't help but feel he wasn't quite given room to breathe in this film. He's at his best when given the space to work to his strengths - witty one-liners and off the wall humour. Here he's having to very much fit in with the story and (admittedly limited) character traits expected of Holmes. Nonetheless he is amusing as the detective, and I also enjoyed his banter with Watson; both actors obviously enjoying each other's company. Jude Law as Watson is a surprise; I sometimes find Jude Law a little bland but as the straight man to Holmes' barmy brilliance he works very well. He communicates the dependability of Watson without coming across as boring. Law's Watson is professional and dependable but also enjoys a good fight or a gamble.

Once again Mark Strong is excellent in a secondary role, being abundantly evil as Lord Blackwood. Roll on the day when this actor is given a leading role in a major film though! Rachel McAdams is feisty and fun as Irene Adler, and Eddie Marsen is enjoyable as the long-suffering Inspector Lestrade. The whole affair has a touch of the Victorian Gothic about it and London looks suitably grimy and industrial. It's not perfect by any means but for a couple of hours of holiday entertainment is more than up to the task. If they commission another one I would certainly go and see it, not least to see how Moriarty is presented as he is tantalisingly referenced throughout this film

Comments

[Lindsey]

Wow, your opinion of this couldn't be more different to mine! Although pleased we agree on the fact that Downey is so not right for the part ...! Looking forward to comparing views on Nine later in the week :-)

[Music_master]

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