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Remember that old adage? You know the one that says “If you have nothing to nice to say do not say anything at all?” Unfortunately if we followed that saying there would be no blog entry for this latest incarnation of Sherlock Holmes. And what kind of blog would that be? It may suffice to say this version of Sherlock Holmes (which has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award) was a disappointment to me. If you are one of those people who wanted to go see a film with an actual story then perhaps you may agree.
Robert Downey Jr. stars as the great detective. Jude Law plays Holme’s assistant Dr. John Watson. Rachel McAdams is Irene Adler, Watson’s fiancee. And Mark Strong plays the part of Lord Blackwood, the main villain in this piece.
The movie’s plot can be summed up in a few words. Sorcerer and serial killer Lord Blackwood returns from the dead to continue his murdering spree. Detective Sherlock Holmes (played by Robert Downey, Jr) and his assistant Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) team up to catch the killer( Strong) who is threatening all of England. Rachel McAdams (Adler) best known for her role in The Notebook, plays Irene Adler, Watson’s fiancee.
The director’s intention may have been to tell a story about murder, deceit and black magic but in this film the special effects are the real stars and overshadow any attempt at telling an interesting story. Yes, that is right. This film has almost no plot. After the film I was left with a wish that the storyline had been more similar to the classic versions of the forties when the plot was the thing and not the over-use of special effects. What little bit of plot there was left little for character development. For example the director could have explored the relationship between Adler and Watson a bit more in the film and perhaps the story would have had more weight.
But no. That is perhaps asking too much.
Consequently the entire film suffers. It feels more like a vacuumed out period of two hours void of any real soul or depth than an exciting adventure. And given the weakness of the story is it any wonder that the performances also suffered? Unlike his more impressive roles as Stark in Iron Man and Charlie Chaplin, Downey’s portrayal of Holmes was not very convincing to me. Downey, one of the few actors in Hollywood with an impressive acting background (and actual talent). However one might still come away feeling that Downey could have done more with the role. Jude Law’s performance as Watson left much to be desired. There was nothing that he did or said that was really that memorable. The only bright light in the film was Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler). She was the damsel in distress that both Holmes and Watson rescued near the end of the film.
Overall if you like special effects and mindless entertainment then perhaps this film is for you. However if you are looking for something with a bit more weight you may do better to save your ten bucks and consider another film at an art house.
