Sherlock Holmes

_Sherlock Holmes goes hyperkinetic action with impossible CGI_ In Victorian London, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) & Dr. Watson (Jude Law) enter into a clash of wits and brawn with a serial killing Lord involved in black magic who, apparently, has risen from the dead (Mark Strong). Rachel McAdams and Kelly Reilly play the women in the protagonists’ lives. Directed by Guy Ritchie, “Sherlock Holmes” (2009) takes Arthur Conan Doyle’s popular Victorian detective and successfully morphs him into an action hero with rapid-fire dialogues and over-the-top thrills. It’s like an old Hammer flick on steroids, but it works as long as you can keep up with the snappy dialogues, which are often mumbled by Downey Jr. (so you’ll have to listen closely or use the subtitles). The interesting thing about the character of Sherlock Holmes is his talent for making sweeping deductions based on the slightest details and this flick highlights that to amusing effect, like when Holmes easily assesses Watson’s fiancé at the restaurant (which is one of the movie’s best scenes). Speaking of the ladies, both Rachel McAdams and Kelly Reilly really shine here. The film runs 2 hours, 8 minutes, and was shot in England. GRADE: B

With the evil “Lord Blackwood” (Mark Strong) now safely strung up and cut down, “Sherlock Holmes” (Robert Downey Jr) and his Boswell “Dr. Watson” (Jude Law) are relaxed as the latter man plans his impending nuptials to “Mary” (Kelly Reilly). Of course, it being Victorian London, the next crime spree is never far away, only this time it concerns some of the highest-placed people in the government. What’s more, their former antagonist appears to have risen from the grave and resumed his previous, nefarious, habits. Pretty swiftly, our sleuth deduces a certain connection with the Grand Lodge, and is almost as quickly embroiled in a complex series of scenarios that could rock the very fabric of the British Empire. Just to add to his woes, erstwhile belle “Irene Adler” (Rachel McAdams) shows up and what’s the betting she has a plan all of her own? Though the CGI elements of this have dated somewhat, this is still a quirkily constructed crime drama that allows RDJ to present a cerebrally entertaining and frequently quite pithy characterisation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fastidious detective. His slightly aloof methods irritate his friend, “Watson” but nowhere nearly as effectively as they do that of Scotland Yard’s finest “Lestrade” (Eddie Marsan) who is on solid form here. Law is ok, no better than that, and McAdams doesn’t really feature enough to make so much impact - so it is all really left to the star, some authentic looking locations, some magic from Hans Zimmer and a delicious degree of mysticism and superstition amidst the greasy, gas-lit, squalor of London. It’s a classy production that is consistently paced to drip-feed us precisely nothing right until the end - but will “Sherlock” manage to save the day, the gal and the wedding?