Sherlock Holmes

Introduction

Sherlock Holmes is one of literature's greatest detective creations, appearing first in 1887 in A Study In Scarlet and making a literary icon of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Over the years there have been many adaptations of Holmes on radio, TV and film.

The most famous on the latter two are almost certainly Jeremy Brett and Basil Rathbone respectively with Brett appearing as Holmes on TV a total of 41 times as opposed to the 14 on celluloid for Rathbone. Despite there being many other actors who would appear as the Baker Street sleuth, these two remain the favourites.

Then came the news that Guy Ritchie, of Madonna's ex and British gangster film fame, would be re-imagining the Sherlock Holmes character with American actor Robert Downey Jnr in the title role with Jude Law as assistant Dr Watson. Law would be dramatic departure from the more gentle portrayals of Brett's Edward Hardwicke or Rathbone's Nigel Bruce. I wasn't sure what to make of this one, especially being a huge Brett fan…

In Victorian London, amateur sleuth Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jnr), Dr Watson (Jude Law) and Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) save a young girl from being sacrificed during an apparent occult ceremony and in doing so take the would-be murderer Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) into custody. Despite some strange goings-on in the prison, Blackwood is eventually executed by hanging and pronounced dead by attending physician Watson.


In the meantime, Holmes is paid a visit from an old muse Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) who asks Holmes to find a missing man called Reordan. Adler is the only woman that Holmes has really known well, and this mainly as she is a professional thief and an adversary to Holmes. Holmes discreetly follows Adler and discovers that she is working for a rather mysterious man with a hidden gun up his sleeve.

It's not too long after this that Holmes is invited to see the remains of the tomb where Blackwood is buried and it would appear that the supposed master of the occult has risen from the dead. Holmes is taken by blindfold to the Temple of the Four Orders whereupon he is briefed by Home Secretary Lord Coward (Hans Matheson) about Blackwood's intentions and mastery of the black arts, in the presence of two other members of the Order; US Ambassador John Standish (William Hope) and Head of the Order, Sir Thomas Rotheram (Edward Fox), who is also Blackwood's father.

The three Order members want Holmes to put a stop to Blackwood's nefarious plans and so, the game is afoot…

Visual

Have to admit that I really like the feel of Victorian London in this film, the effects people have done a fantastic job with both the set design and the rather fabulous CGI effects.

Extras

Nice selection of extras, with the majority of cast and crew going on about how this is supposed to be the most accurate portrayal of Holmes and takes him back to his roots. Not entirely convinced by that argument, it must be said…

One thing I do like is Guy Ritchie's walk-on mode, where he explains a bit about the film, freezes the camera where required and steps out the way when he's finished. Very polite young man he is too, makes me think I'm at a University lecture…

Overall

I really wasn't sure about this at all when I first heard about it. Let's be frank, I'm not a Guy Ritchie fan at all and haven't fallen under the spell of films like Lock Stock, Rock'n'Rolla or any of the other Brit gangster films under which he made his name. I was intrigued with the casting of Downey but a little disheartened with the casting of Law. The trailer was a little interesting but not enough to really capture my attention as it seemed that Holmes was going to be little more than a Victorian action hero.

Eventually though, with the release of the Blu-Ray, I succumbed to temptation and bought it, although it's taken me nearly a month to get around to watching it - just in time, it must be said, for yet another incarnation of Holmes to air on BBC 1 the very evening that I'm writing this - and I'm hoping this one is slightly better than the rather stale version portrayed by Richard Roxburgh. Anyway, I digress…


I have to admit that I had to watch this twice before I got to think of the lead actors as Holmes and Watson, such is their departure from Brett and Hardwicke. That isn't to say it's a bad film, quite the opposite in fact, but I just couldn't think of the two as Holmes and Watson at first. Not sure I still can, to be honest. The film, though, is very much a period masterpiece, certainly not what I expected from Guy Ritchie - a pleasant surprise indeed. Ritchie succeeds in creating a rather believable old Victorian London with a fine eye for detail. The production values are extremely high and the combination of extras, costume design, set design and CGI effects meant that I could really immerse myself in the rather gritty and grimy capital city of the British Empire, with even the unfinished Tower Bridge looking rather believable against the backdrop of a busy Thames river.

I have to admit that the only film I've liked Jude Law in so far has been Enemy At The Gates, but he does well sparring verbally with Robert Downey Jnr - not so much the junior partner but almost an equal, quite happy to jump into the fight in front of Holmes but also looking for a bit a quiet life by settling down with fiancé Mary. Downey Jnr is superb, but then everyone is aware of his acting abilities as well as his other foibles, so whilst I may not see this rather restless and bohemian character as Holmes just yet, I suspect another film may see the transformation in my mind - although I'll always have the late departed Jeremy Brett as my all-time favourite.


On the down side, my edition came with a hologram of both Downey Jnr and Law on the front in character, flipping between both. Now the hologram I don't mind so much but seeing as the film is called Sherlock Holmes, who's bloody idea was it to have Jude Law staring at you for most of the time?

Pretty good overall…