Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Bonus Theatre: Sherlock Holmes

Last year, Robert Downey Jr gave all the Marvel Comics aficionados reason to cheer, when he starred in the film adaptation of Ironman. Come this Christmas, someone has decided to give him a chance to wreak equal havoc, in a film adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Those of us who thought it couldn’t get any better than Jeremy Brett in the series on public television, should be prepared to be, or not to be, disappointed. That is the question.

In this stunning episode, with action scenes to make Basil Rathbone squirm in his grave, Holmes (Downey Jr) and his stalwart partner Watson (Jude Law) engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England. Yeah, sounds like the rest of them. Except that we see Irene (Rachel McAdams), the one woman in whom Holmes ever showed the slightest amount of interest, as she has never been portrayed before (which is why the second clip deserves a content warning).

Frankly, I don’t remember Watson being so sure of himself. In addition, the trailer gives no indication of Holmes’ indulgence in heroin and opium, which is ironic when you consider who they chose for the part.

So, on December the 25th... “Let’s see if this dog can hunt.”
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