Sherlock Holmes, the much-awaited movie of the year, scores and disappoints at the same time, as it sets aside the mind numbing histrionics of the world’s best fictional sleuth in favor of some action and gore. The film will therefore not endear itself completely to the Sherlock fans as much as it will to those who want to see it in the thriller/action mold.
The film’s narrative unfolds in a slow manner as the famed characters plop down on the screen, each playing their mannerisms to the hilt. A nimble-minded(and footed) Sherlock Holmes(Robert Downey Jr.) who uncannily predicts things as an upshot of his cursory observations, his ever-chiding friend John Watson(Jude Law), and the rumbustious Irene(Rachel Madams) who forms the third prong of this triumvirate, all make their gracious presence felt. Lord Blackwood(Mark Strong) plays the adversary who confounds Holmes with his mysterious death and reappearance followed by murders at strategic locations.
The movie shows London at a time of great social ferment, when superstitions riddled the minds and the space given to science remained constrained. Holmes responds with a rule of reason to the seemingly paranormal situations. He figures out why a hanging rope couldn’t kill Blackwood, and how the latter emerges out of his grave from the inside, and how he kills enemies without much of a trace. Though the ending ties together all the puzzling pieces, it doesn’t leave a lasting impression on our minds. The mystery part doesn’t have an intriguing value to it and ends in a flat drone when it is finally revealed by Holmes. His uncovering of truth is attributed to the observations made in a laboratory owned by a Blackwood follower. Some revelations about the troupe of black magicians who follow a distinct religion and worship a mythical creature doesn’t add good measure to the overall story. One would want such movies to avoid getting pigeonholed in regular patterns and cliché sub-plots which it unfortunately does.
What stands out is the comical bit of an unkempt looking Holmes who conducts strange experiments in his room, bellows out handy wisecracks, and crashes in and out of his house(a conspicuous 221 B on a cul-de-sac off Baker Street). His fights with a Blackwood man(towering above him in steel and sinew) will send out ripples of laughter for sure. Irene referred to by Holmes(in the book) as "the woman" outsmarts him again and leaves him speechless with her wit and charm. Robert and Irene are spot-on while essaying the two characters. Jude Law as Watson pursues his love interest, Mary Morstan(Kelly Reilly) with much fervor, and appears so smitten by her that he even shuts Holmes out of his private milieu.
While envisioning and executing the film, director Guy Ritchie ensures that every peg is in its place, including even the chinks and vents on a rampart or the color of a powdered wig. His eye for detail truly matches Holmes as he weaves intricate information into the script about the finery and decorum of an 18th century London, complete with the key attractions of Parliament House, London Bridge, Piccadilly, Baker Street, and Big Ben. Imagine all the above forms after you have set the clock back a couple of centuries. Also the British apparel in the movie comprising the flowing silk gowns, stiff corsets, cut-away tail coats et al heighten the feel of the period. This 70mm panorama of London was like a re-run of the city tour for me.
Overall, the flight from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book to the film looks a little labored, but still retains a bit of its edge-of-the-seat quality and scores high in its breathtaking locations. Go catch it also if you want to fall in love with a lighter/brawnier side of Holmes.