Sherlock Holmes – Film Review

30Dec09

Sherlock Holmes is a film adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional character of the same name, and is directed by Guy Ritchie. Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams, the film follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they work out the resurrection of black magic criminal, Lord Blackwood.

For an update on the late nineteenth century character, the film successfully creates a new and exciting Holmes that the whole family will enjoy! Robert Downey, Jr. is on top form as the detective, with charisma that charms (and even swoons) the audience, even if he looks like a pile of rags and lacks in good hygiene! Jude Law also delivers a great performance as his partner in crime, Dr. Watson, a character we can all sympathise with as Holmes makes his engagement to Mary as difficult as possible. Law and Downey, Jr. have brilliant chemistry on screen, providing a lot of comic relief that everyone will enjoy. Rachel McAdams’ character of Irene Adler was good, but lacked background information about her relationship with the detective, although it was obvious that there was a romantic history. Despite this, her performance was on point as the femme fatal who will make teenage boys go dizzy in their sits, especially the scene when she’s undressing behind the blind!

The narrative is meaty, with lots of sub plots within the main plot. This does however cause confusion, with the whole concept of black magic and science being explained, but not to a degree that younger viewers will understand. This is also due to Downey, Jr.’s rather quick speech which at times is hard to pick up. There were also unnecessary parts in the story, like Holmes getting into fights that resemble one of Ritchie’s earlier pictures, Snatch. Although it wasn’t overly bloody, it seemed a bit too violent for a 12A noir drama story.

Overall, Sherlock Holmes provides a load of laughs and entertainment for the whole family, mainly due to Robert Downey, Jr.’s flawless performance as the lovable, disheveled detective. With breathtaking sets of nineteenth century England and a brilliant score by Hans Zimmer, Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes is perfect for the whole family, except maybe tiddlers!

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