Elementary Good Fun

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 2010)

Guy Ritchie brings a fresh look to the legendary sleuth and introduces a new generation of viewers to "Sherlock Holmes." Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories, not the cliché Basil Rathbone film series of last century, this "Holmes" is gritty, eccentric, difficult, and compelling.
Who better then to cast in the title role than Robert Downey Jr? RDJ has been a favorite of mine since "Chaplin," so it is indeed a treat to see him in leading roles (Holmes, & "Iron Man"'s Tony Stark). Quick, smarmy, clever, or brooding, it's hard to take your eyes off RDJ on screen -- nothing he does goes to waste.
Similarly, nothing in the "Holmes" screenplay goes to waste -- every tiny action and bit of dialog ties together, beginning with the opening sequence. Much like Doyle's stories, there are hints and clues strewn throughout the film, making Holmes' deductions feasible and the story's conclusion logical and satisfying. Of course, Holmes' nemesis Professor Moriarty is introduced, and viewers know that we haven't seen the last of him.
Jude Law is a tense and frequently irritated Watson, not a hint of Nigel Bruce's bumbling but lovable counterpart to Rathbone's Holmes. The balance of the cast give similarly engaging performances, most notably Rachel McAdams as the mysterious Irene Adler, and Mark Strong as the nefarious Lord Blackwood.
Ritchie's direction is also one of the stars in this film. As he did in "Snatch," Ritchie plays with the viewer's perception of time and the sequence of events. This keeps the pace fast and furious, but the careful observer will note seemingly random events throughout the story, and be able to weave them together at the end. All this is done without giving too much away. This is a pleasing experience for the film-goer, who ultimately feels that he or she has been in the know from the beginning.
An intelligent action/adventure romp, "Sherlock Holmes" left us hungry for a sequel.