While I confess I’m only now in the process of digesting the original Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, I have had the fortune of seeing Guy Ritchie’s interpretation on the silver screen recently. Having a newfound respect for Robert Downey Jr. after his excellent portrayal of Tony Stark, I set out to the theater to see if that same over-the-top bravado would be lent to his transformation into the world’s most famous detective. Did he succeed? Read on to find out.
As I understand it, the film follows not a single story from the Sherlock Holmes legacy, but rather represents an amalgamation of many plots defined within the character’s rich history. Primarily, a new case has appeared in London with the attempted murder of a young girl by Lord Blackwell, a notorious murderer and cult leader with a lust for power as most villains do. However, for all his cunning and his insidious planning, he must first pit his meticulous intellect against the relentless observations of Detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever-present friend and physician, Watson. As the plot continues to unfold, it becomes apparent that Holmes and Watson (Jude Law) are against a formidable adversary and must rely on Holmes’ keen powers of deduction to piece together and stay ahead of the twisting and perilous events Blackwell has orchestrated.
I often speak of character chemistry when reviewing a film; my reasoning being that the grandest story in the world will fall flat if the actors tasked with moving it along don’t show the enthusiasm their characters are to project. More still, even if the protagonist has lost him or herself in the role, playing out their part to perfection that perfection comes off as mere overstatement if the supporting roles aren’t passionate enough to match those performances. Thankfully, you’ll find nary a hint of apathy in the actors’ portrayals of these classic characters. While Holmes and Watson certainly are lent a more modern aesthetic, the core elements of the character are staunchly intact – a raving eccentric, exhibiting a tenacious attention to detail with a quirky, moral flexibility only allowable when his conscious can justify it in his pursuit of righting the injustices of his current case.
Guy Ritchie has more than proven himself in past films, but here we find the stylistic director dealing with decidedly more mature or at least time-honored subject matter. While I’m certainly a Guy Ritchie fan, I’m also cognizant that his particular brand of film-making can oft be construed as style over substance. That’s not to say he makes bad films (usually), but the hardcore Holmes audience I’m sure had their hesitations with how he might approach the characters within. Thankfully, Ritchie’s passion more than shines through and it’s apparent that he loves his characters, injecting only as much of his signature within its frames as is necessary to pull audiences in and reveal a much more sophisticated character than the trailers would let on.
It certainly helps that Downey and Law appear to share that passion, and parry and joust their way through the dialog with the kind of elegant precision their relationship would demand. A few liberties were taken with Watson, making his character markedly more badass than I’ve been lead to believe his literary counterpart exudes, but I felt it only added to the spectacle, making it all the more enjoyable whenever the two of them are seen together onscreen. Despite Watson’s (often self-proclaimed) insistence on reigning in the scatter-brained detective, he has his own vices, namely an apparent gambling addiction which Holmes’ appears to delight in periodically reminding him. Also, Watson’s having a love interest in the film is welcome not only to attract female movie-goers, but is a fantastic device to illustrate the strain it places on the nigh-inseparable nature of the duo. Of course, Holmes isn’t without his own love interest, as Rachel McAdams plays the notorious Irene Adler, the persistent one-that-got-away moving the plot with Blackwell along while simultaneously vexing Holmes.
Every scene, be it those establishing these characters or the excellent fight choreography are handled well. The action is clear and easy to follow, with some truly remarkable moments. The sets are more than believable and Ritchie’s cinematography is fantastic. The whole movie has a dark look to it, which works well enough and allows the viewer to more appreciate the colorful dialog. It does occasionally drag, but even those ho-hum moments are made more interesting thanks to the tremendous onscreen presence of the film’s cast.
In the end, this is a fantastic first entry into what is already being described as a series of Sherlock Holmes films. It’s smart, funny, and has enough action to keep you guessing from one scene to the next. Despite its dark subject matter, I’d still say it’s suitable for the whole family and masterfully renews a classic character for today’s audiences while setting the stage for a sequel that I, for one, will be eagerly anticipating.
Sherlock Holmes is awarded 8 out of 10 stars.
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