(Released in theaters: 12/25/09)
Sherlock Holmes is based on the classic series by Arthur Conan Doyle, but director Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch) manages to put a unique and stylish spin on one of the oldest detective stories. The film is set in the familiar 1800’s of Victorian London, but otherwise has a very modern feel. With complex gadgets, gizmos, devices, machines and overall blockbuster success of the film there’s no reason why it wouldn’t. Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has made a living and an unmatched reputation as “sleuth extraordinaire,” solving the worlds most captivating and complex mysteries with seemingly relative ease. Those daring adventures of entertaining detection and exquisite deductive powers have always been with his renowned sidekick Dr. Watson (Jude Law) focusing on the power of Sherlock and Watson’s brains rather than their brawn. Here, with a plot that threatens all of London and perhaps the world, both are equally powerful and equally tested.
A madman thought to possess the mastery of black magic; Holmes and Watson must track down Lord Bloodwood (Mark Strong) down infamous Baker St., and through the rest of the Victorian era London before it’s too late. I’d imagined the character of Sherlock Holmes as the cunning and quick-witted type, but Robert Downey Jr. does one better. Though portrayed as the ego-eccentric and somewhat deranged, Downey gives Holmes an iconic toughness and a superhero quality I don’t think any Sherlock Holmes fan has ever seen before, nor would they want to miss. Robert Downey Jr. is great. Jude Law I thought portrayed Dr. Watson exactly as I thought he’d be: the sturdy rock to Holmes’ flakiness and the consultant to his ego-ridden mannerisms. I thought both were great, upper hand going to Downey.
Mark Strong did all that he could with what he was given in the film’s villainous role, keeping us guessing at the motives of his complex scheme to the very end of the film. A strong year by a strong actor, no pun intended. Rachel McAdams’ character, Irene Adler, is an important role, like that of Bloodwood and a handful of others. Not given much to work with and in the end not enough to matter. Strong’s Bloodwood lacked the menacing trademark that is usual for a character like his and McAdams’ Irene Adler lacked the depth that made it impossible to care about.
The obvious highlight to Sherlock Holmes is the legendary detective duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson brought to life by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. The two bicker back and forth like Matthau and Lemmon in The Odd Couple with enough of a tennis match to keep the entire audience interested. Though, on one side there is Holmes and Watson superbly acted and used to the fullest. On the other side there is Bloodwood, Adler and a cast of others, but in my opinion it’s the gap that separates to two that ultimately diminishes the film’s effect. There’s no doubt in my mind that most everyone will leave the theater entertained, but I’m afraid that it doesn’t quite live up to the hype.
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rottentomatoes: 69%
MovieWiseGuys: 7.0/10