Movie review: Sherlock Holmes

Jan 12 2010 by Sheanne Mulholland

HOT on the heels of a mass murderer with supernatural powers, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) has to rethink his tactics to solve a string of deaths.

Backed by his trusty sidekick Dr Watson (Jude Law), Holmes is forced to dabble in black magic in order to stop Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong).

The case is complicated by the appearance of Holmes’ long lost lover, Irene Adler, a world class criminal, no less.

A sleek and slightly mad edge to the character – who experiments with poisons on his dog – is brought to light in this reinvention of the detective.

The brotherly love/hate relationship between Holmes and Watson is compelling and on-screen chemistry between Downey Jr and Law is unarguably what drives the film.

Hats off to both performers – especially Downey Jr who carries Holmes’s dark humour perfectly.

But it is just so hard to shake the feeling that both these roles should have been played by English actors.

Director Guy Ritchie’s unique stamp appears throughout his flawlessly created Victorian London, right from the stylistic opening scene to the climax on a half-built Tower Bridge.

Although prominent in the set, Ritchie’s attention to detail has not been reflected in the simple, straight-forward storyline which severely lacks a side-plot.

But it does produce an effective portrayal of the genuine fears and beliefs of the time, and occult powers.

Riddled with black humour and essential elements of the Holmes we all know and love, this movie really does do what it says on the tin. Rating: 7/10.