Robert Downey Jr. returns to the screen to play the main role for Guy Ritchies interpretation of "Sherlock Holmes." The film has small doses of action, a pinch of comedy and some mystery film value.
Based in late 1800's London. Holmes alongside his weary and fearful sidekick Dr. Watson (Jude Law). Must discover the whereabouts and master plan of Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) who was tried and hanged for his crimes, was later declared missing and possibly alive. After his tomb was found smashed and eyewitness' claiming to see Blackwood rise up and walk away.
The rest of the movie is spent figuring out where Blackwood is and foiling his plan to take over London and then move on to America.
Along the way our hero Holmes likes to spend his leisure time getting messed up on either alcohol or drugs, and going to a bare knuckles barn yard fight which Holmes seems to really enjoy. It felt like Holmes only used his super detective brain to figure out his next punch and not his next clue.
Roger Ebert described the new Holmes personality best:
"Holmes' canonical devotion to cocaine is here augmented by other drugs and a great deal of booze. Yet Holmes has the body of a lithe athlete, the skills of a gymnast and the pugilism of a world champion. He and Watson (who is, you recall, only a doctor, although one with clients who must be puzzled about his office hours) spring readily into action like Batman and Robin."
The film is visually nice to look at with everything done in mostly earthy tones, along with Victorian style buildings and structures complement the grim, foggy and dark scenery shown through the movies entirety.
Although this is a good movie to sit and watch. Critics like Yglesias feel the interpretation of Holmes is wrong:
"this action-oriented version of Holmes is untrue to the original. I think this is wrong. The print Holmes is clearly described as an expert singlestick fighter and accomplished bare knuckle boxer. He gets into fisticuffs and always wins. Hand-to-hand combat is never the feature of Conan Doyle’s stories because it wouldn’t be interesting to read a detailed account of beating a guy up with a walking stick. But bringing more emphasis to this kind of thing is exactly what a screen adaptation of a well-known print character should be for—elements of the character that are de-emphasized by the print medium are rightly brought into sharper focus for a movie."
With a valuable missing piece of equipment gone missing in the films end. It looks as if "Sherlock Holmes" will be having sequel or two in the future.
This film deserves two stars, a star for the actors and for the visuals. Maybe the next movie will feel more like a mystery movie and not so much a super hero film.
At a glance:
Movie: Sherlock Holmes
Length: 2 hrs 14mins.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong.
Directed:Guy Ritchie
