'Sherlock Holmes' Movie Review
In cock-er-nay gangster flick director and Madonna-fan Guy Ritchie's Hollywood debut, brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and his crime-solving partner, Doctor Watson (Jude Law), apprehend the infamous Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) for practising the dark arts. Blackwood is hanged, only to later rise from the grave, prompting an investigation by Holmes that takes in corrupt politicians, shoehorned-in-Hollywood-love-interest Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) and a mysterious underground society...
Brit Mark Strong is obviously one of the names on top of Hollywood's speed-dial-a-villain list: in the last five years, he's been the bad guy in Syriana, Stardust, Sunshine, Tristan & Isolde and The Young Victoria, with a couple more chucked in for good luck this year with Kick-Ass and Robin Hood. And why not? He's one of the best at it - when he threatens to cut off George Clooney's head in Syriana, you know he means it.
In Sherlock Holmes, as power-hungry loon Blackwood, he's on autopilot. But for Strong, that's not the worst thing in the world - he can do sinister in his sleep and, as always, he's one of the best things in the film. Downey Jr is the same, doing what he does best: be himself (albeit with a plummy English accent). His on-screen beau, the usually reliable Rachel McAdams, is another of the cast phoning in a performance, but, unlike the aforementioned, she is woefully flat - Downey Jr at least brings his effortless charisma to the role.
Here, however, it's up to Jude Law to be the standout. It's hard to believe that a man known almost entirely for his hairline, bedding women and spreading his seed over Europe can actually act. But look at past evidence: in Gattaca, I Heart Huckabees, Road to Perdition and The Talented Mr Ripley (still his best work yet), he was outstanding. As Watson, he is the straight man foil to the eccentric Holmes, bringing him, and the duo's odd-couple relationship, to life.
So Ritchie has got a reliable cast (for the most part), his own not-insignificant directing style and a jaunty little Hans Zimmer score secure on Sherlock Holmes. Where the film falls down, unfortunately, is in the script department. Any 'peril' is of the bog-standard, predictable variety. Amidst all the fighting with large men and black magic shenanigans, you never fear that Holmes or Watson are in much trouble. A tense abattoir scene aside, there is no real sense of danger here.
The script's saving grace is its envisioning of Sherlock Holmes as something of a buddy movie, but even that feels underdeveloped. Much of the film sees Holmes trying to sabotage Watson's engagement to Kelly Reilly's Mary, and I spent its entirety wishing he'd succeed. There's nothing wrong with the ever-dependable Reilly, it's just that the film sparks into glorious life whenever Downey Jr and Law are together on screen, bickering like an old married couple as they sink further into trouble.
It's because of this relationship that the film works so well - there are some decent action sequences, the best of which is a Thames-side scrap between Holmes, Watson and what can only be described as a human giant - but the best moments are the lighter ones, those that showcase the squabbling comedy duo of Holmes and Watson. I can only hope Watson and Mary get a divorce between Holmes and its inevitable sequel - things wouldn't be half as interesting without the central dynamic between the detective and the Doctor.
Sherlock Holmes is far from perfect. The movie is too long and takes some time to kick in to gear, but Downey Jr and Law make for an inspired pairing and Guy Ritchie has clearly found his calling. His glossy visual style never sat right with those dodgy scripts of his - directing blockbusters written by someone else suits him much better. Ritchie has always been a classy visualist, which he displays well here - I just pray they give him a better script next time.
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Karl Benecke - is a third year Film Journalism student at the University of Huddersfield.
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