The New Sherlock Holmes for Movie Monday


I guess you could say this was a wonderful Christmas for me. First spending the day with friends and playing in her jewelry studio and then yesterday, Boxing Day, an unexpected invitation to go to Taos and see the new Sherlock Holmes movie.

I am a long time fan of Sherlock Holmes. I even have read the collections of stories put out. And the BBC has done a very "faithful" job of putting them to film. Nor can one fault the acting.

But less face it girls, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are a lot better to look at for nearly three hours.

And I love Robert Downey Jr. and Judd Law. So naturally I just had to see it though to be entirely frank I had my reservations. I generally am not fond of re-do's of movies or shows I was already fond of. But even if it didn't measure up I would get to look at Downey and Law for three hours. How can you go wrong? And as it turned out I loved it.

Apologies to Sir Conan Doyle but I never quite understood why Watson put up with Holmes. There seemed to be no up side for him. But in this new take on the friendship we discover that Watson has a bit of a gambling problem and that while a prim and proper doctor (a tad anal retentive) he has a secret desire for the bizarre and Holmes, as played by Downey, is more bizarre than eccentric. But then Holmes would have to be if you figure the edges of crime and society that he hung around. Not to mention his fondness for opium, etc. Director Guy Ritchie seems to be purposely trying to make us reconsider what we know of Sherlock Holmes and his universe. Guy Ritchie wants to show that Sherlock Holmes' intellect is as much of a curse as it is a blessing.

These tweaks in the characters they are playing create a wonderful platform for a buddy movie of the level I have not seen since Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Their on screen synergy is of a level that totally consumes your attention to the point you almost miss some of the fantastic backgrounds, elaborate ensemble scenes, and gorgeous costumes. Ritchie has made a very contemporary film as far as the tone and texture, because it has been a relatively long time since there's been a film version of Sherlock Holmes that people embraced.

Not only will I have to see this movie again I will have to own the DVD when it is released but until then I give you The official site, which I have visited too. Oh, and BTW, they left if open for sequel.



Comments

  1. Recovering TeacherDecember 28, 2009 at 1:14 PM

    I've seen some of the clips on TV and am not yet impressed. It just seems so "un-Holmesian" - if that's a word. Of course, having RD and JL in the movie is no big draw for me ;~)

    My favorite Holmes will probably always be Jeremy Brett of the Granada TV/PBS Mystery series. And no apologies to Basil Rathbone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JBinford-BellDecember 28, 2009 at 1:21 PM

    There are two very delightful looking females in the flick but I noticed only their costumes. Er, and lack there of from time to time.

    ReplyDelete

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