From the opening when horses strongly gallop on screen, through the gray skies and industrial grime of the exteriors and the dinginess of most of the interiors, this Sherlock Holmes is grittier and much more raw then its predecessors--a Holmes for the millennium.
Robert Downey's Holmes is a brilliant brat. He borrows Watson's clothes without permission, insults Watson's fiance at their first meeting, and drives Mrs. Hudson to her wits' ends, but he's also a guy who knows his way around a boxing ring and the one you want on your side when facing doom in the form of Lord Blackwood, an executed murderer who resurfaces at the head of a black magic cult bent on world domination.
Jude Law's Watson is an understated sidekick to the flamboyant Holmes, his portrayal is much more inline with the literary Watson than has been seen on screen before. It's fun to watch the verbal sparring and exasperation which underlying affection makes sparkling rather than mean. The supporting cast is excellent including the wonderful Rachel McAdams, who as I think about it has been wonderful in every role I've seen her in. The movie plays very smooth and engaging to the viewers. When Holmes explains how the crimes were carried out, we realize we saw the same clues at the same time he did. It's all elementary.
This Sherlock Holmes is neither Jeremy Brett nor Basil Rathbone. Viewers who expect to settle into a predictable detective yarn will be disappointed. This Holmes is edgy, action packed and slightly uncomfortable, but more believable because of it. It's smart and atmospheric, and well worth seeing in the dark with your speakers turned up as it will draw you in to the intriguing world of Sherlock Holmes. Nothing Escapes Him.
5 Stars
