SHERLOCK HOLMES
MOVIE REVIEW

		Review by E.C.McMullen Jr.
SHERLOCK HOLMES - 2009 USA Release: Dec. 25, 2009 Lin Pictures, Silver Pictures, Translux, Village Roadshow Pictures, Wigram Productions Rated: Australia: M / Finland: K-13 / Ireland: 12A / Singapore: PG / South Korea: 12 / UK: 12A / USA: PG-13

You just can't please some people.

After over 60 years of Sherlock Holmes movies and radio shows, writer Michael Robert Johnson, and producer and co-writer, Lionel Wigram returned Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters to their rightful places. Dr. Watson is no longer the bumbling stooge, but a brilliant surgeon and quick-witted ladies man.

Holmes is no longer a prim and elegant detective, but a disheveled, drug abusing genius, wallowing in his own self-pity: as Doyle originally wrote them. Yet the hardcore Holmes fans are now complaining because this movie is only based on Doyle's characters and not on any of his stories.

Piffle!

You know what is so great about this movie? Whether it was made today or 60 years ago, it never betrays its sense of place. In the capable hands of director Guy Ritchie (SNATCH, REVOLVER), we are rewarded with a timeless piece of rambunctious mystery, chilling evil, and clever action.

SHERLOCK HOLMES opens with a chase. The game's afoot! As Dr. John Watson (Jude Law: eXistenZ, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, LEMONY SNICKETT'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS) rides in a carriage, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.: IN DREAMS, GOTHIKA, IRON MAN) legs it through the filthy evening streets of London. Their destination is the same as they attempt to stop the ritualistic murder of a young woman. Together Holmes and Watson have caught their devious quarry, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong: BABYLON A.D.). Even as a murderous criminal caught red-handed, Lord Blackwood's nobel station intimidates the police officers of Scotland Yard. Such a man could get away with murder.

Months later and a convicted Blackwood awaits the hangman's noose. For his last request, he demands the company of Holmes. There, as master of his cellblock, he tells Sherlock that his execution will not be the end of him, and that Sherlock himself will play a part in the next three murders Blackwood will commit, AFTER his death. Holmes scoffs openly at Blackwood's supernatural suggestions, but wonders what tricks Blackwood may play to make his supposed magic appear real.

Meanwhile, Holmes friend Watson, is engaged to be married to Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly: PUFFBALL, EDEN LAKE, TRIAGE) and moves out of the apartments he shared with Holmes. Watson wants his best friend to get along well with his future wife, and arranges a restaurant dinner for the three of them. Holmes is resistant but Watson is insistent. The dinner barely has a chance to begin before Mary, intrigued by the reputation of Holmes, makes the mistake of asking him to use his deductive skills on her. Watson tries to talk Holmes out of it and Holmes is reluctant, but Mary sweetly implores Sherlock, breaking through his barriers.

Holmes begins with hesitation but his exploring, curious mind overrides his good sense. By the time he finishes with the quietly outraged Mary, his canny observations are dead on but his deductions are dead wrong. The evening quickly goes downhill from there.

Meanwhile Lord Blackwood's body has disappeared from his tomb. The night caretaker insists that he saw Blackwood rise from his grave and walk away. When Blackwood's coffin is opened, there is a dead body inside, but it is not Blackwood. The predictions that Lord Blackwood whispered to Holmes have begun.

No sooner does Holmes attempt to get his scattered life back together in time to pursue the new case, than an old flame, the cause of his heartache and self-pity, steps back into his life. Her name is Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams: RED EYE) and from their curt conversation, she appears to be a black widow whose husbands die almost as soon as they say "I do." Holmes, still smitten but cautious, takes her apparently murderous ways in stride. After all, he is the only lover she left alive, so that must mean something, right?

So this tale comes together in a wonderfully complex, intriguing, and even steampunk fashion.

In addition to screen story writers Michael Robert Johnson and Lionel Wigram, the screenplay was tautly written by Johnson along with Anthony Peckham (DON'T SAY A WORD) and Simon Kinberg (XMEN: THE LAST STAND, JUMPER). Usually this many writers ruin a story, but the plot, dialog, and pace move with the harmonious rhythm of a fine handmade timepiece.

Composer Hans Zimmer (HANNIBAL, THE RING, BATMAN BEGINS, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END, THE DARK KNIGHT) provides a score that sets perfect pitch to every scene. Cinematographer Philippe Rousselot (INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, PLANET OF THE APES [2001]) gets every filthy decaying inch of 19th century London as it probably was. What's more, his use of light brought the chill right out of old England and straight into me.

There were a few too many moments when SHERLOCK HOLMES began sliding into "Too cute" territory. Light-hearted, humorous moments are one thing, punctuating otherwise witty repartee with a farting pet dog is another.

All the same, while SHERLOCK HOLMES may weave a few times, it never staggers. It's so fascinating, you may not even notice it's over 2 hours long. Fun and exciting, with just the right touch of creepy thrill, SHERLOCK HOLMES is a great date movie.

Welcome back, Guy!

Four Shriek Girls.

This review copyright 2009 E.C.McMullen Jr.

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