The eccentric sleuth gets a make-over

Sherlock Holmes has ensured that 2010 kicks off on a great note as far as visiting the cinema is concerned. The ageless sleuth gets a mega make-over from Guy Ritchie and would, no doubt, embark on a new journey kind courtesy Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson save a hapless woman from being sacrificed by Lord Blackwood to appease the dark lords. The case comes to an end much to the relief of Londoners who heave a sigh of relief but closing the case means more than anything for Holmes.



Watson, the trusted partner, has decided to give crime solving days to settle down and unable to take this Holmes confines himself to the emptiness of his house. Torn apart between his friend and fiancée, Watson finally gets the two to meet but regrets the decision immediately. Holmes needs a case to maintain his sanity and is shaken out of his reverie when an imprisoned Blackwood expresses a desire to meet him. Blackwood warns him of grave things that are about to descend. A man of scientific reason, Holmes makes nothing of this threat until Blackwood mysteriously returns from the dead and starts putting his nefarious plan into motion.



Parallel to Blackwood Holmes is pursued by Irene Adler, the femme fatal who has foxed Holmes far too many times. She wants him to retrieve a contraption commissioned by Blackwood for a very powerful and mysterious client. Between Adler, Blackwood, a foolish boss of Scotland Yard, Watson's lack of interest and a nameless nemesis, Holmes has to juggle many balls, plug far too many holes and unravel clues that will help solve the biggest threat to the world. The mood of the film is pretty clear from the very first scene--Sherlock Holmes is an unexpected adrenalin rush. This version of the 150-years-old detective gets a very modern transformation and all thanks to Robert Downey Jr.



The actor is in top-notch form and would impress just about anyone. His Holmes is a very 1970's ‘Last of the Cowboys' kind of man who has accidentally ended up in a wrong era. But now that he is there, he is making the most of it. Downey Jr. looks like a young Al Pacino and his effervescent exuberance is the mainstay of the film. Jude Law as Dr. Watson is perhaps a little too restrained but more often than not is an able member of the doubles team. This reviewer is hardly a Guy Ritchie fan and believes that Ritchie tries to too hard to look nonchalant about his craft. Having said that, Sherlock Holmes might just be the best Guy Ritchie film yet; it might not have the rawness of a Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or the chutzpah of Snatch but possesses an overall endearing quality.



Don't get fooled by Ritchie's impudence; this film is far from perfect--the narrative is a little jumbled for at times the film kicks off into a voice-over mode, which, in an attempt to know the proceedings better actually hampers the pacing; some of the scenes are repeated long after the rabbit deserted the bag and the pacing goes for a toss many a times. What helps the film rise above the pitfalls is that perhaps for the first time a Guy Ritchie film offers more than just snappy one-liners and highly stylized set pieces. In addition to the fine casting, the production design wins hands down; you can smell the stench off this London. Hans Zimmer's gypsy music inspired soundtrack just adds to the mystery.


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