Sherlock Holmes (2009)
USA, UK 128m, Colour
Director: Guy Ritchie; Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong
This latest re-imagining of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is not only entertaining for its murder mysteries, its witty dialogue and interesting characters, but it also provides a timely social commentary on the power of fear and its use for political purposes. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law provide the most complex and memorable portrayals of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in the history of their portrayal on film. Their performances breathe new life into some of cinema’s most well-worn and often dull characters. Great costuming and set design, not to mention some stunning pyrotechnic effects and camera work only serve to enhance this excellent adaptation (Klaus Ming January 2010).
2 comments on “Sherlock Holmes (2009)”
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I know Holmes purists who are dismayed by the liberties taken with the characters here, but at this point what are you going to do with them other than take liberties? You’re not going to do the purist version better than the Jeremy Brett series on TV.
I like the theme of the film (as you point out), and I enjoy the fun Downey and Law are obviously having in putting the gay subtext right out front (I’m not usually a huge Jude Law fan, but Downey, as with Gwyneth Paltrow in the Iron Man movies, makes the people around him better — which is not usually commented on). And Mark Strong is a wonderful villain, as he was in Kick-Ass.
I liked the sequel just as much, too.
As I talked about here: http://u-town.com/collins/?p=586, Sherlock Holmes has been the most consistently popular fictional character in the English-speaking world over the last century partly because he is, to a point, malleable. After all, there are two different series on TV now where he’s brought into the modern world.