Sherlock Holmes (2nd version)

If one goes to “Sherlock Holmes” expecting cold detached intelligence, Calabash pipes, a magnifying glass, and “elementary”, they might be disappointed-or confused. However, if movie-goers seek thrills, satisfying characters, and the usual intrigue audiences have come to expect from mystery tales but presented in a new way, they will discover “Sherlock Holmes” to be a satisfying experience. Over one hundred years after the release of the classic tales, “Sherlock Holmes” has been brought into the twenty-first century with action, humor, and wit. The film incorporates disparate elements like religious cults, action-hero sequences, tender moments of “bro-mance”, and humor to bring Baker Street to life in an altogether novel way.

“Sherlock Holmes” can be trusted in the hands of director Guy Ritchie—heists, robberies and tricky situations are his specialty, along with the glitz and glamour of Madonna’s films. As a classic tale of mystery, the new film adaptation of Sherlock Holmes might disappoint some lovers of the traditional tale. However, the writers of the film manipulated the classic story to please twenty-first century audiences. The most significant focus is put on the characters—Watson earns a significant promotion from lackey to respected and valued equal of Holmes.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law’s Doctor Watson effectively dominate the film in one’s memory—it is immediately clear that they are a natural pair, both through the script’s witty banter and also through their clear camaraderie while acting together on screen. The classical nudes in the window of Watson’s office gracefully illustrate his value of order and perfect physical harmony, while the mise-en-scène of Holmes’ office with its resident chaos immediately clues the viewer in to their respective personalities and the apparent differences between the two friends. The fact that Holmes’ room utilizes the same set as Sirius Black’s house in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes as no surprise—dark films are the order of the day, as is clear with the current macabre trend in film and television.

Though the relationship between Holmes and Watson is well-constructed and fulfilling, the true star of the film is Holmes. Sherlock Holmes as portrayed by a twenty-first century actor is not exactly the classic cold intellectual of Doyle’s tales; he is adaptable, resourceful, and has a flippant attitude that frequently unmasks his healthy ego. His darker aspects are not ignored; oblique references to his drug use are included, such as when Watson asks rhetorically, “You do know what you are drinking is meant for eye surgery?” Clearly the writers picked out what they considered the most interesting aspects of Holmes—his darkness, his humor, and his relationship with Watson—and transformed the pipe-wielding detective of yesteryear into a man much more recognizable to modern day audiences in his vulnerability, eccentricity, and genuineness. The construction of Holmes and Watson’s roles through the script as well as the actors’ talent in portraying their own versions of the residents of Baker Street combine to make Holmes and Watson highly memorable in this film adaptation.

In creating a love interest for a character seemingly without a strong inclination to women and would seemingly rather be gallivanting about with Watson, writers did the best they could with Rachel McAdams’ Irene Adler. As Holmes’ kryptonite, the character of Miss Adler, though sufficiently devious, serves as a simple distraction for Holmes. The presence of a love interest was clearly important in a film for today’s audiences, though Adler better fulfills the role of accomplice and helper more so than passionate love interest. She is the least fulfilling character, but she successfully fulfills her function as distraction and eventual helper the film.

A strange and sinister antagonist provides the dramatic tension in the movie. Lord Blackwood is introduced dramatically in an occult scene at the beginning of the film. Blackwood is a formidable foe for Holmes, the convincing nature of his “powers” keeping the audience intrigued throughout. Blackwood represents the seamlessness of reality and fantasy that pervades the film, not only in its plot but also in its design aspects.

The film’s images have staying power in the viewer’s memory—a writhing woman in a white dress, a dark figure hanging by the neck over the Thames from a shipyard chain, a man that ignites into a flaming inferno upon firing a gun...a dark London in the late 1800s is enlivened through the costumes, makeup and set design. Holmes’ world is not at all stuffy; it stubbornly asserts its reality with dirt, texture, and chiaroscuro light effects. Radiant costumes light up the inky London streets—though an overall dark film, the character of Irene Adler adds color with her crisp bright dresses and tailored menswear. The images created the film of a dusty but electric London with dark laboratories filled with things that ooze, old buildings falling apart before one’s eyes, and sweeping views of the Thames are a testament to the mastery of the film’s design.

The movie reads as a blow-by-blow, just like the audience is treated to a preview of Holmes’ attack tactics before they happen on-screen. Events are paced with the deliberation of a good book, while keeping in mind modern audiences’ need for incessant action. Considering the recent vogue for all things gloomy, “Sherlock Holmes” takes a dark situation and keeps it comfortably paced and never dull. If one does not happen to be a die-hard aficionado of the classic tales, “Sherlock Holmes” can provide an entertaining movie-going experience.

It might not have the classic pipe or the magnifying glass, but “Sherlock Holmes” can draw modern-day viewers into the past while relating it to the present. The intriguing complexities of Holmes’ mind engage with the depth of all the characters and the dark beauty of the film design, along with complex music that would never be considered cliché for a mystery film, making “Sherlock Holmes” anything but elementary.