Ritchie continues to impress

Rating: 8/10 (4 January 2010)

Guy Ritchie has made three fine action/comedy films since 1998, starting with Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and RocknRolla (I still need to see his 2005 film Revolver). He has a distinct style of film-making using slow motion, flashbacks, pauses, heavy British, Scottish, and Irish accents, and like many fine filmmakers of the day, a very strong musical soundtrack. With the exception of Swept Away, he tends to focus on the British underworld of gangsters, hit men, and junkies. He is quite good at telling these stories and one would naturally think that his next venture would be along those same lines.
Then came Sherlock Holmes.
I wasn't completely on board with this one. After seeing the film, I can confidently say that I am on board for this one.
Robert Downey Jr. plays the famous British private detective. Along with him is his faithful sidekick Dr. Watson, played by Jude Law who steals the movie for me. He was by far the biggest surprise. I wasn't all over the idea of changing the somewhat reserved character of Dr. Watson into a rough and tough soldier turned doctor. I couldn't have been more wrong.
We find Holmes and Watson fowling up the plans of Lord Blackwood, a powerful man who dabbles in the dark arts. Following his execution, Dr. Watson decides it is time to leave his partner and settle down with his wife to be. Sherlock has his qualms about the separation from his faithful assistant, but those are brushed aside when reports of Lord Blackwood rising from the grave start circulating. With Holmes back on the case, he does everything he can to get Watson back on the job with him.
Like I said, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. I didn't think Ritchie's modern style would translate well to this story. What makes it work is his use of modern camera techniques and special effects to help bring to life the legend of Sherlock Holmes. The fight scenes are backed up by some period inspired music and the costume design, art direction, and set design all contribute in creating the right atmosphere for the story.
Like I said earlier, Law played a very different yet favorable Watson. Downey Jr. was not perfect for the role but his accent was first rate and I especially liked his voice overs when he would play out a situation in his head before it would happen (although some of the credit goes to Ritchie and the editing department). The rest of the cast was fine, though I wasn't completely sold on McAdams in her role.
There isn't anything groundbreaking about this one, just a fun movie with a cool story. It's blatantly obvious that Ritchie intends to make a sequel regardless of the box office revenue (which should be enough to call for a sequel), though he set up RocknRolla for a sequel and I'm not sure if that is going to happen any time soon. I hope it does, but I think he needs another Sherlock Holmes movie to go through and then take some time to work on a good story for a RocknRolla sequel.