Posts Tagged ‘2009 adaptation’
Review: 'Sherlock Holmes' (2009)
WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
As with the Basil Rathbone era of Holmes films it’s important to look at the characters within the universe that has been presented to us. Therefore we must accept that within the universe Guy Ritchie has created, Sherlock Holmes is indeed a bare-knuckled 19th century James Bond with a dash of Minority Report-esque precognition. The polite nod to Rathbone early in the film must have been meant for those of us in the audience watching as Holmesians; I’m not really going to review this film as a Holmesian because I can’t – as a Holmesian I’d seen it all before, mostly in ‘A Case of Evil‘ and (spoiler hidden) [it ended the same way (but without the clock-tower).].
So, not reviewing as a Holmesian but as someone who spends far too much time sitting in my local cinema.
‘Sherlock Holmes’ is a perfectly adequate film, with highly enjoyable moments and amazing set pieces. The acting is mostly fine, with a stand out performance from Eddie Marsan as the put-upon Inspector Lestrade and a valiant attempt by Mark Strong to make a one-dimensional character a little more rounded. Special mention must go to Gladstone, who was utterly adorable.
The plot is contrived, clichéd, ridiculous and over-long but the interaction between Robert Downy Jr’s Holmes and Jude Law’s Watson stop the air from completely leaving the balloon. Rachel McAdams provides more questions than answers, such as what was the point of Irene Adler other than to provide Holmes with someone to rescue? She was established as someone who has bettered Holmes on more than one occasion but took a u-turn somewhere along the way and became the damsel in distress… a role that I think could have been played by Kelly Reilly as Mary Morstan, perhaps giving Jude Law the opportunity to play any other emotion besides exasperation and Kelly Reilly something to do other than simply act as a wedge.
The existence of Moriarty, and Irene’s connection to him, seemed very much a set piece for future films which looked tacked on in order to set up the stage for the next film. It’s a pity that Mark Strong (who should have been Holmes) won’t be returning as he would no doubt prove to be a very charismatic, devious and brilliant Moriarty, as Lord Blackwood he was underused and not given the material to really create the menacing fear he was supposed to inspire.
The interplay between Holmes and Watson provide the real draw and substance to this film, I could have quiet happily sat through an entire film dedicated to their interaction and it’s a pity they didn’t do that. Robert Downy Jr’s Holmes is fine, with all his eccentricities, mannerisms, and arrogance he gives us an interestingly flawed character – people have argued that physically he’s no Holmes and I would agree, if this was the Holmes of Conan Doyle’s Victorian London rather than Guy Ritchie’s Victorian London. Jude Law is an perfectly fine Watson, his acting is one-dimensional and his limp periodically disappears but I can take him as the ex-soldier he is. The chemistry between the pair feels somewhat forced at times but they work well together, acting like the old married couple that they are.
The film could (and should) have been better plotted, but there is no denying that the production looks good, the set pieces are spectacular (I’d quite happily watch the moment that ship slid into the water over and over again) and there were enough little Holmesy moments to satisfy. By no means a great film, but a perfectly okay one and in a universe that I wouldn’t mind paying future visits to… if the plot improves.
