Sherlock Holmes

With the evil “Lord Blackwood” (Mark Strong) now safely strung up and cut down, “Sherlock Holmes” (Robert Downey Jr) and his Boswell “Dr. Watson” (Jude Law) are relaxed as the latter man plans his impending nuptials to “Mary” (Kelly Reilly). Of course, it being Victorian London, the next crime spree is never far away, only this time it concerns some of the highest-placed people in the government. What’s more, their former antagonist appears to have risen from the grave and resumed his previous, nefarious, habits. Pretty swiftly, our sleuth deduces a certain connection with the Grand Lodge, and is almost as quickly embroiled in a complex series of scenarios that could rock the very fabric of the British Empire. Just to add to his woes, erstwhile belle “Irene Adler” (Rachel McAdams) shows up and what’s the betting she has a plan all of her own? Though the CGI elements of this have dated somewhat, this is still a quirkily constructed crime drama that allows RDJ to present a cerebrally entertaining and frequently quite pithy characterisation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fastidious detective. His slightly aloof methods irritate his friend, “Watson” but nowhere nearly as effectively as they do that of Scotland Yard’s finest “Lestrade” (Eddie Marsan) who is on solid form here. Law is ok, no better than that, and McAdams doesn’t really feature enough to make so much impact - so it is all really left to the star, some authentic looking locations, some magic from Hans Zimmer and a delicious degree of mysticism and superstition amidst the greasy, gas-lit, squalor of London. It’s a classy production that is consistently paced to drip-feed us precisely nothing right until the end - but will “Sherlock” manage to save the day, the gal and the wedding?

2011