Sherlock Holmes

"Why are you always so suspicious?"
"Should I answer chronologically or alphabetically?"

In 1891, detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) stops occultist Lord Blackwood (Strong) from ritually killing another woman.  A few months later, on the eve of Blackwood's hanging, he requests an audience with Holmes.  He leaves with a warning... Blackwood will return, "death is just the beginning," more people will die, and Holmes will go crazy trying to solve the case.

Days later Blackwood's tomb is destroyed, from the inside, and he is seen walking around.  And Holmes gets a surprise visit from Irene Adler (McAdams), ex-girlfriend and professional thief / con artist, who wants help finding one of Blackwood's collaborators.  With the help of trusted friend, Dr. John Watson (Law), Holmes tries to discover Blackwood's plans and potential victims before it is too late.


When I think Sherlock Holmes, I always picture Basil Rathbone... wearing a brown trenchcoat and deerstalker hat and pipe.  It is an iconic image.  But it feels like a good time for a reboot.  This Holmes is different - no pipe, no deerstalker... and his Watson is different as well.  Gone is the bumbling, heavyset man who is just one step behind.  Jude Law as Watson?  This version of Watson, yes.  And Robert Downey Jr. was the perfect choice for Holmes.  His career is doing great (with Tropic Thunder, the Soloist, and the Iron Man franchise in the bag), and he has the confidence to pull off the character.  The friendship / bromance between Holmes and Watson works.  They work as best friends... you know the person so well, and they irritate you so much, but you've still got their back when it counts.

I like the way everything was revealed... and that the audience doesn't know how it was done or how Holmes will solve the case.  Action, mystery, little bit of love.... and sets-up a potential sequel / franchise with this character.

Sherlock Holmes (2009) 128 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material.
Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes
Jude Law as Dr. John Watson
Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler
Mark Strong as Lord Blackwood
Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade