Sherlock Holmes – Film Reel Reviews

Holmes and Watson must match wits with Lord Blackwood, a man who was hung for practicing black magic but seems to have returned from the grave.

Directed by – Guy Ritchie

Written by – Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, Simon Kinberg, Lionel Wigram

Starring – Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Robert Maillet, Geraldine James, Kelly Reilly, William Houston, Hans Matheson, James Fox, William Hope, Clive Russell, Oran Gurel, David Garrick, James A. Stephens

First off, what an amazing movie! Great dialogue, amazing action scenes, funny as hell and pure, non-stop fun. I missed Avatar but this was what I got to see instead and I’m not complaining at all. Everything about this movie is fast. The back and forth between Downeys Holmes and Laws Watson is quick and cutting and frequently hilarious. When you add Rachel McAdams to the mix it’s the perfect combination.

McAdams plays Irene Adler, one of the only people able to outwit Holmes and on more than one occasion. I had to wonder if she actually outsmarted him or is he so secretly in love with her that it’s clouded his judgement? Either way, she becomes part of the latest crime that Holmes and Watson must take on. A case that should be their last as Watson is moving from his shared residence with Holmes so he can get married. Holmes continually drags Watson back into his world, although Watson never seems to complain too much.

Law, Downey and McAdams make a perfect trio.

The movie begins very mystically, with a villain who seems to control some very powerful magic. Holmes, however, is not convinced and sets about proving that everything is scientific. I was glad to see that it didn’t all boil down to some magic answer to everything making the film grounded in reality while still being way over the top with it’s ‘evil villain attempts to take over world’ plot. Mark Strong as Lord Blackwood, the villain in this piece, plays the part well. He’s not the best bad guy I’ve seen but he proves a worthy opponent for Holmes and Watson. There’s also a great setup for a sequel that had my friend giggling with delight since she’s a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. I wouldn’t dare ruin it here but anyone who has knowledge of the Holmes mythology will certainly enjoy it.

This really is a very Guy Ritchie film. I always loved his style and his films always seem to have great dialogue. No exception here. Holmes and Watson fight back and forth like an old married couple and I found myself laughing out loud quite often when the two of them were together. Action is also top notch and I liked the few moments where everything will slow down as Holmes plots his next move. We’re given a glimpse inside his mind as he pieces together the precise movements and reactions an opponent will have as he’s fighting them. Flash back to the scene and Holmes will deliver the exact actions that he had just planned out with everything going perfectly. I actually wished there had been more moments like that in the flick. I found them to be quite funny and almost a moment of calm before the storm.

You can feel the bromance in the air.

Now you’re dealing with a mystery here so you know you’re getting the big reveal at the end. How did it all happen? It’s one of my favorite parts of the mystery, the Scooby Doo reveal. Holmes delivers it as if he had known from the start and we’re all so silly to have not noticed it. Downey plays the part just right, too smart for a simple case and bored that nothing more challenging has come along. This case gets him fired up and he attacks it with all the energy he can muster. A perfect blend of smart ass and charm. Jude Law as Watson reacts exactly as anyone would. He’s completely annoyed with Holmes but can’t stop himself from helping. The guys just too damn interesting to leave behind.

Rachel McAdams also delivers a great performance but she ducks in and out of the film which is too bad. Her moments with Holmes are funny to watch and while there were more scenes with them than I had been led to believe, I still could have done with more of her in the film. Everything worked so well in this movie and it’s one of my favorites I’ve seen this year. There’s still alot of year left but Sherlock Holmes will probably sit very near the top of the list by the end. A great blend of comedy, action and mystery with great performances from all involved. I hope they continue the story so I can see more because this one movie wasn’t enough for me!

Under the marquee – Will