"This was definitely a good idea"However, with his latest effort, gritty-London gangster-flick extraordinaire Guy Ritchie has made a dramatic turn-around in motifs with a big-budget blockbuster; in this case a reboot of the classic Sherlock Holmes franchise, with none other than Robert Downey Jnr. in the driver's seat. And despite being brushed off by some as "Lethal Weapon in Tweed", the ex-Mr. Madonna has delivered a highly satisfactory and enjoyable film.
The premise of the movie makes a decent homage to the original Sherlock Holmes books, as it combines the classical paranormal mystery which was so popular during the 19th Century, and the humorous buddy-cop formula which makes great comtemporary action movies. An old hat it may be, but it's put to good use here. The plot revolves around a mysterious Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), who after being hanged for practising nasty-occultist-whatevers, has all of a sudden risen from the dead and disappeared. Suddenly, people are dropping dead left and right, and it's a race against time for Sherlock to yadda yadda yadda. The point is, in the way of dramatic twist-turns, "Sherlock Holmes" delivers nothing new. The culmination of the plot that Holmes discovers is by no means a guessable one, but it all seems somehow familiar. In short, while the storyline is well written and executed, it will all seem oddly reminiscent of something you can't quite put your finger on.
Despite the shortcomings in the story, the film is carried exceptionally well by the two protagonists - the world famous Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who are each portrayed with a dynamic wit and presence by Robert Downey Jnr. and Jude Law respectively. Robert Downey Jnr's performances post-"Iron Man" often speak for themselves - charismatic, magnetic and quick-witted. Guy Ritchie's envisioning of Holmes in this reboot is by no means the refined, quintessential British Gentleman we know him to be, as Robert Downey Jnr's portrayal is far more reminiscent of Captain Jack Sparrow than any previous representation of the famous detective. Despite this step away from the original series, Downey Jnr. breathes an interesting new perspective into Holmes as a character, replacing the perfect Gentleman for a more grizzled, unwashed eccentric. This, in my humble opinion, makes for a much more interesting character, despite the obvious throwback to Pirates of the Carribbean. This influence allows Holmes to become the archetype "imperfect genius." He is two parts Will Hunting, two parts Ferris Bueller and at least one part Russel Brand. The end product is quite fantastic.
The rest of the ensemble can be given credit as well, as firstly, the typically infuriating Jude Law really brings Watson into his own; transforming him from the plucky side-kick to the partner Holmes likely couldn't live without. The chemistry between the two characters is nothing new - traditional good-cop, bad-cop, but it's marvelous to see nonetheless. Rachel McAdams also gives a decent performance as the femme-fatale/love interest, however, be it bad writing or perhaps a bad bit of casting on Guy Ritchie's part, something about McAdams' character leaves one wanting more - this may be due to her not having enough screen time, or perhaps an underdeveloped character - whatever the case, she delivered a quite forgettable performance, and you will likely find yourself feeling somewhat alienated from the leading lady, as you might find it difficult to give a damn that she's about to be murdered by the bad guy.
"Meh."
The premise of the movie makes a decent homage to the original Sherlock Holmes books, as it combines the classical paranormal mystery which was so popular during the 19th Century, and the humorous buddy-cop formula which makes great comtemporary action movies. An old hat it may be, but it's put to good use here. The plot revolves around a mysterious Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), who after being hanged for practising nasty-occultist-whatevers, has all of a sudden risen from the dead and disappeared. Suddenly, people are dropping dead left and right, and it's a race against time for Sherlock to yadda yadda yadda. The point is, in the way of dramatic twist-turns, "Sherlock Holmes" delivers nothing new. The culmination of the plot that Holmes discovers is by no means a guessable one, but it all seems somehow familiar. In short, while the storyline is well written and executed, it will all seem oddly reminiscent of something you can't quite put your finger on.
Despite the shortcomings in the story, the film is carried exceptionally well by the two protagonists - the world famous Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who are each portrayed with a dynamic wit and presence by Robert Downey Jnr. and Jude Law respectively. Robert Downey Jnr's performances post-"Iron Man" often speak for themselves - charismatic, magnetic and quick-witted. Guy Ritchie's envisioning of Holmes in this reboot is by no means the refined, quintessential British Gentleman we know him to be, as Robert Downey Jnr's portrayal is far more reminiscent of Captain Jack Sparrow than any previous representation of the famous detective. Despite this step away from the original series, Downey Jnr. breathes an interesting new perspective into Holmes as a character, replacing the perfect Gentleman for a more grizzled, unwashed eccentric. This, in my humble opinion, makes for a much more interesting character, despite the obvious throwback to Pirates of the Carribbean. This influence allows Holmes to become the archetype "imperfect genius." He is two parts Will Hunting, two parts Ferris Bueller and at least one part Russel Brand. The end product is quite fantastic.
The rest of the ensemble can be given credit as well, as firstly, the typically infuriating Jude Law really brings Watson into his own; transforming him from the plucky side-kick to the partner Holmes likely couldn't live without. The chemistry between the two characters is nothing new - traditional good-cop, bad-cop, but it's marvelous to see nonetheless. Rachel McAdams also gives a decent performance as the femme-fatale/love interest, however, be it bad writing or perhaps a bad bit of casting on Guy Ritchie's part, something about McAdams' character leaves one wanting more - this may be due to her not having enough screen time, or perhaps an underdeveloped character - whatever the case, she delivered a quite forgettable performance, and you will likely find yourself feeling somewhat alienated from the leading lady, as you might find it difficult to give a damn that she's about to be murdered by the bad guy.
"Meh."Guy Ritchie's traditional style in this one just about peers up through the typical adventure movie CGI glitz. He employs an almost neo-noir style in the lighting, creating a dark, yet somehow magnetic envisioning of Victorian London. Also, Holmes' occasional fighting scenes (in which he envisions each blow in bullet-time-esque slow-motion) are oddly reminiscent of Brad Pitt's bare-knuckle boxing matches in "Snatch." It is nice to spot that Guy the Guv'nor hasn't forgotten his roots even in the wake of some big Hollywood investment.
In a nut shell, Sherlock Holmes is an enjoyable flick, with an unconventional yet exciting collection of action sequences. The acting is for the most part excellent, thanks mostly to the talents of Robert Downey Jnr. and Jude Law, and Guy Ritchie maintains a steady upward trajectory away from the travesty that was "Swept Away". The plot is a tad weak in places, and may be confusing to some, but the open ending has a great potential for sequels which would likely be better than this film. Therefore, I highly reccomend this one for all ages.
8/10
In a nut shell, Sherlock Holmes is an enjoyable flick, with an unconventional yet exciting collection of action sequences. The acting is for the most part excellent, thanks mostly to the talents of Robert Downey Jnr. and Jude Law, and Guy Ritchie maintains a steady upward trajectory away from the travesty that was "Swept Away". The plot is a tad weak in places, and may be confusing to some, but the open ending has a great potential for sequels which would likely be better than this film. Therefore, I highly reccomend this one for all ages.
8/10
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