Director: Guy Ritchie (Snatch., Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 128 min.
(3.5/5)We all knew from the beginning that there would be plenty of controversy surrounding the re-imagining of the classic intellectual detective Sherlock Holmes. There were complaints concerning Robert Downey Jr.’s nationality, about Jude Law being a sellout, about Guy Ritchie being a hack, and the transition to creating an action-blockbuster out of this being a travesty. Fortunately, most of these complaints came from Sherlock Holmes purists, a demographic which I do not claim as my own, and I have enjoyed keeping my eye on this throughout its production, understanding that this was being prepped as the next big action-blockbuster franchise and as such, it would have to adhere to certain expected guidelines. While this could be perceived as a hindrance, the combination of the film’s maturing director, the intelligent screenplay, and the sickeningly talented lead easily make for the most enjoyable action blockbuster of the year.
Unless you have completely avoided the theater, television, internet, and magazines completely for the past year, you have a vague idea what the movie is about. Sherlock and his trusted partner Dr. Watson (Law) have a very intricate case to solve, nothing is as it seems, there is some deducing, nobody can be trusted, shit gets real. Good enough. If you need one reason to watch this movie, that reason is Robert Downey Jr., a man that I am convinced could carry just about any movie on his shoulders. If it was the English accent that you were worried about, fear not, his is spot on and so much fun to watch (which you should have known after seeing his Oscar-nominated role in Chaplin anyway). As unlikely as it may be with the stiff competition this year, he’s so damn charming in the role that I wouldn’t say another nomination for this man is out of the question – hell, he already has the Golden Globe nomination. He makes a scruffy, smug, eccentric, and surprisingly needy Sherlock Holmes who we understand can’t function in society unless he has a mystery to unravel.
Many of the film’s most enjoyable moments come from the interactions between Holmes and Watson, the latter being one of the only people who really understands how his eccentric friend’s mind works. While only implied in the movie, at this point, you can deduce that the two have been working together for so long, that they understand each other like a married couple – and bicker as such. Their chemistry is undeniable and the subplot of Watson’s engagement and Holmes’s restrained hopes of sabotage, show that Holmes is as reliable on Watson as he is on his own intellect (and the drugs, when he hasn’t a case to keep him occupied). Between the two friends and throughout, the film is full of the witty one-liners and snappy dialogue that you would expect, and credit must not be given only to the actors, but the writers would do a solid job of keeping the film feeling like something new and free from falling into typical Hollywood conventions (thank you again for not having flashblacks to explain Rachel McAdams’s character more thoroughly or making this a Sherlock-Watson origin story). Sure, in the end, the story ties up almost too nicely, but keep in mind that this was how the Doyle stories themselves generally played out – Holmes is putting the pieces together as the story progresses and as he keeps getting more data, data, data he can use his masterful intellect to spill it all in one mind-blowing revelation.
Director Ritchie also impresses, the visuals of a turn-of-the-century London being gorgeous and the dark atmosphere of the film stylized and stunning. The action has sloppy moments, but for the most part, it is engaging, well-paced, and humorous. The slow-motion shots that many complained about from the trailer work well in the context of the film, with Holmes’s thought process voicing as a play-by-play, demonstrating that he can’t even be in a simple fight without analyzing his every move. One particular scene involving explosions had the entire theater on the edge of their seats and holding their breath. Seriously, it was pretty awesome. As for the score, it has to be one of the strongest that I have heard this year, with Hans Zimmer choosing to replace the usual epic 100-piece orchestral sound with more minimalist tunes of plucking banjos, strange violins, and folksy accordions and pianos.
It’s not a masterpiece, but Sherlock Holmes is a hell of a fun movie that is best watched with a group of friends. It’s sleek, it’s smart, it’s humorous, it’s action-packed, and the two leads are a blast to watch. With the sequel an inevitability, I say bring it on sooner rather than later. I’ll be waiting eagerly, pipe in hand.
The Vancouver, BC area Sherlock Holmes group were treated to an early screening and gave the movie a thumbs-up review:
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Vancouver+devotees+Holmes+give+film+four+star+rating/2376508/story.html
So 3 people have checked in and we’re all pretty much entirely on the same page. 3.5/5 doesn’t seem like a strong endorsement, but I guess its buoyed by quite a bit of respect for what it accomplished, and the need to point out that a lot of the mainstream critical reviews now seem prejudicial and/or out of touch.
I wonder if it had come out before Avatar that it would have gotten better reviews for being a solid blockbuster.
Haha that is priceless. They actually spoof that bit in the South Park episode, but I had no idea people actually did stuff like that on TV.
The maddox page about 9/11 conspiracy had some pretty hilarious mocking of Glenn Beck too:
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=911_morons
More links to awesome Glenn Beck moments are welcome!
Fuck I posted wrong!
Sherlock Holmes was good, at least the Sherlock Holmes-parts of it. The Guy Ritchie parts weren’t as good. What was with the arbitrary UFC-scene?
“What was with the arbitrary UFC-scene?”
I wouldn’t strongly defend it, but I think it was definitely better executed than the trailer hinted it would be. if it has any purpose it shows how Holmes can apply his brilliance to any situation, and thus I guess make any action scene that ever happens from then on more believable.
Thing is, they already showed that in the action-introduction. Now they’re just throwing a scene in for another action beat where Sherlock Holmes can have his shirt off.
I mean they got Simon Kinberg in to jazz up the script, and he knows the 10-minute action beat rule as well as the Star Trek/Transformers guys, and I guess this was the one place where nothing in the story at all lent itself to some sort of action, so they put a fight in there.
Goon definitely has part of the reasoning for it down. Sure, it wanted to be a cool fight scene primarily, but it worked as an examination of the character as well. Although yeah, like you said Henrik, they did something similar in the opening scene. I guess another reasoning would be that it was a wink at those that read the novels, where it talks about Holmes being a great amateur fighter. Okay, maybe it was just there to have a cool fight scene. And show how he makes some money. And introduces Irene and shows the effect she has on him. Whatever the case, it worked for me. I enjoyed it.
The giant henchman in Sherlock was (not surprisingly) a WWE star in the late 90s/early 00s as “Kurrgan”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-y0-MYnRLQ
Here he is along with MMA star Giant Silva wearing tie dye dancing like a dork to an entrance theme by Insane Clown Posse.
I don’t think one has to be a Sherlock Holmes purist to find the film peurile. It’s trying too hard to be too many things to too many people, basically selling out on every front and not distinguishing itself in any way. It has elements of Harry Potter (and Lord Blackwood might just as well have been Valdemort), Starsky and Hutch (with the bitching between the boys), Batman and Robin, and any other action franchise one cares to think about.
The trademark kineticism of Ritchie’s is tired and dated; fortuntely he doesn’t use it too much (but enough to grate). The look of the film is fairly generic with its hackneyed use of CGI and darkness to mask its flaws. And Downey Jr, an actor I usually admire, seems to be just playing the same old character he always does.
For me, the action doesn’t work, the humour doesn’t work, the twists are predictable and laboured, and what distinguishes Sherlock Holmes has been disfigured and mutated beyond recognition, making it just another bland action flick.
“The look of the film is fairly generic ”
“not distinguishing itself in any way.”
I disagree very much on this front. I thought this movie would be crisp, clear, more typically mainstream blockbuster style… its actually shot very dark and somewhat gritty.
“what distinguishes Sherlock Holmes has been disfigured and mutated beyond recognition”
All I really ever knew about Sherlock Holmes was that he had a pipe, hung out with Watson, was kind of snarky, and did very elaborate deductions. I don’t see how this version of Holmes is any more sacriligeous than a Bond reboot.
And if you never smiled at any of the banter, I guess we wont agree on anything on this one. Maybe this is why you didn’t get re-elected, Paul Martin.
This version of Holmes is actually one of the closest to his literary equivalent. He’s a drug addict (particularly cocaine though he enjoyed opium as well), manic depressive (the books note he would have huge fits of depression without a case to work on) and quite self-destructive (he’s prone to anorexia and lack of sleep) all of which he is in the books.
Anyone who claims this Holmes isn’t accurate has no idea what they are talking about.
” …not distinguishing itself in any way. It has elements of Harry Potter (and Lord Blackwood might just as well have been Valdemort), Starsky and Hutch (with the bitching between the boys), Batman and Robin, and any other action franchise one cares to think about. ”
when you wnat to write something off as unoriginal, you do a quick flash, ie “Avatar is just Dances With Wolves in space!”. When you need half a dozen movies to reference, it doesn’t make a great case that something has undistinguised itself.
I’m not saying Sherlock Holmes is necessarily all that unique either (I may try though), but saying its rolled dozens of movies into one but also saying it doesnt distinguish itself? From my experience if you have to namecheck a dozen different things to describe one thing, you may as well just call it its own thing.
If I wanted to trash System of a Down, saying “Oh they’re so unoriginal, they took Frank Zappa quirk, mixed it with Dead Kennedys warbling, Slayer riffs, Deftones bounce, and peppered it with Middle Eastern music and late-era Beatles”… that doesnt really work.
SO as for The Sherlock Holmes-verse, I can say that RDJ’s Holmes is part James Bond, part Jack Sparrow, and yes part Tony Stark – observant quick witted smarmy rascal. The film looks like a mix of darker Harry Potter with Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd London. The score is ever present in the way Dark Knight has it ever present, except that score is sometimes whimsical or more demanding of your attention. Their banter is not Starsky/Hutch, these people know each other way too well and have more subtext to their bitching, more inherent history, fuck I’d compare it to Withnail & I before I got to Starsky and Hutch.
“Anyone who claims this Holmes isn’t accurate has no idea what they are talking about.”
YOu’d think from listening to a couple people that this was like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen all over again.
not distinguishing itself in any way.
As Goon and I have said before, the score is fantastic, and most certainly is a distinguishing characteristic of the film.
Hooray observant me – I see Jude Law has been describing their relationship as influenced by “something as eccentric as The Odd Couple to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Withnail and I and Laurel and Hardy.”
Matt, with reference to those movies listed above this post, I think I can see little bits of that influencing the score. A lot of scores are driven by the action or gravity of the plot, whereas I think this score is one of the most character driven in a while.
http://www.thewrap.com/article/sherlock-holmes-score-pogues-go-romania-composer-says-12173
Matt you should read this… Yeah I’m definitely rooting for this score at the Oscars, if it isn’t nominated it’s bullshit.
I had no idea Hans Zimmer was with Buggles, but it makes complete sense.
This was one of the only scores of the year that actually had music in it, but it’s hardly anything outstanding. Scores have become more and more shitty in later years, with only very few standing out, so this mediocrity all of a sudden feels great.
The problem with the “UFC” scene was that they showed us step by step, in slow motion, what he was going to do. And then show him doing it.
Is that really the best way to edit that scene?
I’m on board with 3.5 out of 5. More nudity.
2.5/5
Kind of run of the mill – especially the last 30 minutes or so. I was actually kind of bored and toyed with leaving (since I screen hopped into this anyway). But I wanted to see how the door would be left open for the sequel.
Aesthetically it reminded me of Sweeny Todd and Gangs of New York. Loved the costumes – that was actually probably my favorite part. And yeah the score is nice and fits great within the movie. I can’t see myself tooling down the highway listening to it though.
RDJ and Jude Law are good enough to keep my attention, but I’d much rather see them go back to dialogue films or actor driven if you will (Wonderboys, My Blueberry Nights). Shit, if you’re going to have a story about a man’s struggle with his sexuality, please don’t let it be a Guy Ritchie, action film. And someone really needs to help Rachel McAdams find a role that fits her or her career is going to plummet. Good looks only gets you so far. Terrible.
**SPOILER**
** SPOILERS**
I kept wondering to myself when Moriarty would show up. Alas he never does until they speak his name at the end to bring about the inevitable sequel. Just like Batman Begins did with the Joker. In other words, I see the second film mimicing the way of Batman and becoming a far better film.
Matt you should read this… Yeah I’m definitely rooting for this score at the Oscars, if it isn’t nominated it’s bullshit.
I totally agree, if this doesn’t get a nomination its a complete crime.
I also like how they note how they changed how Sherlock played the violin, which is one of the most daring changes in the film and one I quite like. Rather than have him be a brilliant violinist who plays it to calm himself its more of a nervous tick that barely contains his demons.
The problem with the “UFC” scene was that they showed us step by step, in slow motion, what he was going to do. And then show him doing it.”
That’s what I liked about it
I’d do 3.5/5. It was solid, enjoyable, fun, and I loved the set design/costumes/score/RDJ. And I did like the way they didn’t explain much about Holmes and Irene’s background, good call on that Jonathan. It wasn’t outstanding, but it was a good time, which was all I wanted out of it.
SPOILERS
I kept wondering to myself when Moriarty would show up. Alas he never does until they speak his name at the end to bring about the inevitable sequel.
What are you talking about, Irene was working for him the whole time. He was in at least three scenes – you didn’t see his face, but he was there. I really liked the way they had him in the background throughout the film but always in the shadows, not yet ready to take his place as main villain.
Yea, I am hardly passionate about the film, but it didn’t do any big missteps either. Still it was the most un-Guy-Ritchie film since he’s been making ‘em, I kinda missed a lot of the crazy editing stuff and large casts of characters.
Loved the Jude Law / RDJ chemistry though. The movie cooks when they are on-screen together.
I loved the score, thought the movie was decent but hated that they felt the need to actually say Moriarty’s name. It felt so dumbed down by that point. They should have just left the guy working in the background as somewhat of a mystery. Holmes figured out that he was a teacher or professor based off the chalk on the lapel and with what we knew already we didn’t need the actual name being attached yet.
Two weeks out, $140 million domestically. Expect sequel news soon.
Safe to say that this is Guy Ritchie’s biggest box office in his career, in fact, Sherlock Holmes has probably grossed more than all of his previous films combined.
And, Kurt, it’s only in its second week!
The word of mouth is better than you’d think for Holmes… but I think it just shows what a draw RDJ is
I think the trailer has been a success too, I’ve seen it with a number of crowds and it always kills. It also is apparently playing in front of most Avatar screenings… so with that kind of exposure, I would assume you’d benefit.