Robert Downey Jr. has definitely seen a big comeback lately, though the word “comeback” is probably not the most appropriate, as his level of stardom has never shown quite as bright as in the last year or so.  A big part of that is thanks to IRON MAN, though I knew after watching the little-seen and under-appreciated KISS KISS BANG BANG that he was only a few steps away from 21st century “leading man” status.  In the past he’s played historical figures like Charlie Chaplin, and fictional characters from popular literature, but having the opportunity to play a legend like Sherlock Holmes is a rare treat for any actor.  When I first heard he was cast as the world’s greatest detective, I was definitely intrigued.  When I heard it was to be directed by Guy Ritchie, I was cautiously optimistic.  Ritchie has certainly proven himself in the past with highly entertaining films like LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS and SNATCH, but his more recent efforts (particularly SWEPT AWAY) have left critics and fans feeling cold and unimpressed.  However the idea of him doing a Sherlock Holmes movie, set in London as a period piece… well, that just HAS to be good, right?

The movie opens with Holmes racing against time to stop the evil Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) from completing a ritual of the dark arts.  With a little help from his faithful friend and assistant Dr. Watson (Jude Law), Sherlock thwarts Blackwood and sends him to prison.  It appears as if Holmes has once again solved the case.  At this point Watson wants nothing more than to distance himself from the brilliant detective, and hopes to settle down with a newfound female companion.  Adding to the complications is Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), an American con artist who has a romantic past with Holmes, and has shown up in London after an extended absence.  Holmes goes to visit Blackwood just before his execution, at which point Blackwood informs him that the mayhem is far from over.  Even after the nefarious villain is hung, bad things begin to happen, and Holmes and Watson must work together to solve the mystery of who is behind these mysterious deeds.

On the surface, SHERLOCK HOLMES doesn’t attempt to do anything revolutionary storywise.  The plot is fairly simplistic, but the movie is nonetheless very entertaining.  What makes a film like this work (and can ultimately kill it if done wrong) is the chemistry between to two lead characters.  In a way SHERLOCK HOLMES is a buddy picture, in which one buddy is just a little more brilliant than the other.  Though each serves a purpose.  While Holmes is the great detective, seeing what others don’t and understanding what others can’t, Watson is the one who does what is necessary when logic is no longer the answer.  The on screen chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law is great, even if mostly done through Watson’s animosity for Holmes’ eccentricities.  They are essentially two men not meant to be together, but a failure to themselves individually.  Robert Downey Jr. is (as is to be expected) great as Holmes, capturing the misunderstood brilliance of Sherlock’s mind, while exhibiting the imperfect nature of his personality.  This is very close to what I’d imagine Sherlock Holmes should be.  When you think about it the world’s greatest detective, though certainly brilliant, would be anything but normal.  Downey Jr. transforms himself into this character with flawless ease, and shows us he can take a role that has been played countless times, and breathe new life into it.  Jude Law really impressed me as well.  The role of Watson is a tough one, as he’s basically second banana to Holmes, and by nature cannot be even close to an equal.  But Law manages to make Watson enigmatic and layered enough to shine in every scene he inhabits.  I dare say he steals a few moments, perhaps unintentionally.  These two are, in this reviewer’s opinion, a perfect on screen match.  Rachel McAdams however is sadly underdeveloped, and therefore somewhat forgettable.  She’s an actress that can make even the most basic roles interesting, but Irene Adler here is little more than a plot device, and could possibly have been left out altogether.  It’s certainly not her fault, but rather the fault of the script.  It’s thankfully the only really weak aspect.  Mark Strong does a good job as the mysterious Lord Blackwood, holding his own against Downey Jr. in both characterization and screen presence.  Playing a villain in a film like this can’t be easy, and especially playing one who dabbles in dark magic requires a high level of acting competence, as making that convincing and not unintentionally funny could be rather difficult.  Strong is equal parts creepy and impressive – I actually would’ve liked to see more of him here.  And I would be remiss to not mention the great Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade, the authoritative figure Holmes must frequently assist, and more frequently annoy.  Marsan is a strong actor in just about anything he does, and he’s a welcome face in this movie.  To see a true display of his performance capability, see the critically acclaimed film HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.  Another character in the movie worth noting is Hans Zimmer’s complementary and unusual score.  Why unusual you ask?  Being a fan of Zimmer’s, I’ve grown to know his music and style well.  Here I barely recognized it.  I also found it interesting that he chose to mimic Ennio Morricone’s theme for “Cheyenne” in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.  It’s a strange and unique score, and stands out in many ways.  I liked hearing it, but it does give the film an unusual quality… though one that adds a level of classic storytelling to it.

And now to talk a bit about the directing.  Guy Ritchie can do one thing really well, and that’s action.  The action scenes here are intense and impressive, without ever seeming ridiculous or over-the-top.  I was initially a little worried after seeing the trailers and commercial spots, which make SHERLOCK HOLMES look more than a bit like PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.  But that’s an obvious ploy to get butts in seats.  The film itself is exciting and well-paced without ever going for the cheap thrills.  Ritchie gives it a classic sensibility with a modern action flare.  He reminds us just how cool he can make films look and feel, and finds his muse in Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes.  Perhaps my only complaint, outside of the Irene Adler character being only moderately impactful, was the somewhat brief final battle.  Heck, they even go out of their way to set up the location of the big finale, only to have the big finale be short and sweet.  But Ritchie keeps the film moving and flowing, and never gives the audience a chance to get bored, and that is perhaps the best thing about SHERLOCK HOLMES.  There’s also a perfectly brilliant setup for a sequel, and I’m happy to watch these two leads together again.  One thing that’s touched upon slightly, but could easily have been expanded, was Holmes’ mindset when problem-solving.  There’s a mental disconnect there that occurs, as you see his detective skills carrying themselves out, while he goes into an almost haze.  I think they could have taken that even further, having Holmes get so completely disconnected from the world around him, as the result of his solving process, that he can no longer function with proper mental capacity.  You know, things could be exploding around him, and he’s SO lost in thought he doesn’t even realize it.  As a character, Sherlock Holmes has infinite possibilities, and as a movie (particularly one this entertaining) there’s no doubt that more on screen adventures will only get exceedingly entertaining… at least one can hope.  One thing is for sure – with the IRON MAN franchise and now this, Robert Downey Jr. has solidified himself a big budget blockbuster name in Hollywood, and the hearts of moviegoers.  There’s no mystery as to how someone like him could make SHERLOCK HOLMES a lot of fun.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
•