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blamebramptonObeying the primal urge of people who live in a city that is too hot by half, we sought out air conditioning and a cinema today.
Sherlock Holmes was the film of choice, both of us being avid Conan Doyle fans. We were prepared to take it on its own merits and loathe it if need be. But we did not need it to be Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett, as the world already has both of their Holmeses.
As it turned out, we quite enjoyed it. I liked the muscular, Byron with brains performance given by Robert Downey Jnr (who I admit is an old fave) and I even liked Jude Law very much as Watson (first time I've really liked him on screen) and think he did a very fine job with a character who canonically was a man of action and precision. The insertion of Irene Adler wasn't too annoying, Watson's fiancee Mary was excellent, and Mark Strong makes a most convincing Bad Guy.
But for all that, I wish that Guy Ritchie had a Neill Blomkamp. You know Blomkamp, he's the chap who Peter Jacksons now that Peter is busy being Sir Peter (which is well deserved, BTW). In Blomkamp's debut, District 9, he had all the good parts of an early Jackson film with none of the overblown grandiosity of the later ones, plus a bit of wit and coolness all his own.
Had Sherlock Holmes been produced by Guy Ritchie, rather than directed, I think it would have been a much better film. The gritty violence of Victorian London was splendidly realised and worked perfectly for the modernisation of the story, but there was just too much of it and not enough story telling. The chop-cut editing to show Holmes's thought sequences was effective, but each time it was followed up by the real-time action, wasting valuable film time that could have been used on more topless RDJ shots. Similarly, the denouément begins in typical Holmesian 'What first gave you away' style, but it is as though the film-maker quickly grew bored and decided to insert another action sequence.
The problem, of course, is that Holmes works best because its action and thrills are centered around tight story. Take that away, focus on the action and thrills, and it's all just bread and circuses. Though hot bread and circuses, with very good performances and great production values (save for that leather coat, which just looked wholly out of place).
On the whole, four and a half stars to everyone else, two and a half to Guy Ritchie.
As to the whole pre-slashed angle, well, it's Byron and Shelley and you can read that as you will. A fun start to the year, but one that had me wishing I could have been on set with a rod that I was allowed to apply to the director whenever his indulgences appeared. And for those of you who know it, you can play Spot Hatfield House, too!
Sherlock Holmes was the film of choice, both of us being avid Conan Doyle fans. We were prepared to take it on its own merits and loathe it if need be. But we did not need it to be Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett, as the world already has both of their Holmeses.
As it turned out, we quite enjoyed it. I liked the muscular, Byron with brains performance given by Robert Downey Jnr (who I admit is an old fave) and I even liked Jude Law very much as Watson (first time I've really liked him on screen) and think he did a very fine job with a character who canonically was a man of action and precision. The insertion of Irene Adler wasn't too annoying, Watson's fiancee Mary was excellent, and Mark Strong makes a most convincing Bad Guy.
But for all that, I wish that Guy Ritchie had a Neill Blomkamp. You know Blomkamp, he's the chap who Peter Jacksons now that Peter is busy being Sir Peter (which is well deserved, BTW). In Blomkamp's debut, District 9, he had all the good parts of an early Jackson film with none of the overblown grandiosity of the later ones, plus a bit of wit and coolness all his own.
Had Sherlock Holmes been produced by Guy Ritchie, rather than directed, I think it would have been a much better film. The gritty violence of Victorian London was splendidly realised and worked perfectly for the modernisation of the story, but there was just too much of it and not enough story telling. The chop-cut editing to show Holmes's thought sequences was effective, but each time it was followed up by the real-time action, wasting valuable film time that could have been used on more topless RDJ shots. Similarly, the denouément begins in typical Holmesian 'What first gave you away' style, but it is as though the film-maker quickly grew bored and decided to insert another action sequence.
The problem, of course, is that Holmes works best because its action and thrills are centered around tight story. Take that away, focus on the action and thrills, and it's all just bread and circuses. Though hot bread and circuses, with very good performances and great production values (save for that leather coat, which just looked wholly out of place).
On the whole, four and a half stars to everyone else, two and a half to Guy Ritchie.
As to the whole pre-slashed angle, well, it's Byron and Shelley and you can read that as you will. A fun start to the year, but one that had me wishing I could have been on set with a rod that I was allowed to apply to the director whenever his indulgences appeared. And for those of you who know it, you can play Spot Hatfield House, too!
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Date: 2010-01-01 02:28 pm (UTC)The docks were Liverpool Docks. How do I know? Because my cousin-in-law did the blowing up! (which sounds very Allo Allo.)
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Date: 2010-01-01 02:30 pm (UTC)BTW, HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY! I have been surprisingly crap. Well, actually, you've known me for a while, not that surprisingly ...
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Date: 2010-01-01 02:31 pm (UTC)Thank you!
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Date: 2010-01-01 02:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 02:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 02:38 pm (UTC)However, in a way, it was a very authentic touch as Conan Doyle often had American plot insertions. I think on the one hand that he had a genuine fondness for the place (he travelled there widely) and on the other hand, he had a fine authorial appreciation for the marketing opportunities allowed there. Perhaps both can also be allowed for Mr Ritchie?
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Date: 2010-01-01 02:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 03:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 03:13 pm (UTC)One, I could've really used this pointer when I was writing my official review of the movie for the magazine. But thanks for mentioning this. It sums up how I feel about the movie.
Two, which leather coat was it again? I've watched the movie 3 times and can't, for the life of me, remember a leather coat in the story.
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Date: 2010-01-01 03:17 pm (UTC)And yeah, great spectacle, and some genuinely lovely character work from the director as well as the actors (the two men not telling each other things was divine) but just not enough story!
Still, hot boys abungo!
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Date: 2010-01-01 03:23 pm (UTC)I was just telling my sister after we watched this afternoon, "Great storytelling, but well, let's face it, there's not much story to begin with."
My crush for Robert Downey Jr. from when I was 13 returned in full force, I tell you.
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Date: 2010-01-01 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 03:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 05:51 pm (UTC)Checks for cinema times tomorrow...
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Date: 2010-01-02 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 04:37 pm (UTC)Yours is the best I have read so far.
Maybe the director felt the need for more action,
to capture the attention span of the movie
audience.
I plan on seeing the movie soon.
I am waiting for the holiday crowds to go down.
Robert Downey, Jr. is a rare, gifted, talented,
actor. He is a chameleon to me. He is able to
become the character he portrays.
I have always been impressed with him.
The flirting, pre-slash between the two,
I saw in a preview.
I thought that was interesting,
and raised my eyebrow.
I am glad for the comeback for Downey.
He had a rough time of it, and I hope
he has put his demons behind him.
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Date: 2010-01-03 02:02 am (UTC)I'm glad he managed to put things back together, too. Hurrah for his supportive family and friends, and for his own fortitude.
You will enjoy it when you get to see it! For all that I gripe about the need for more story, I still enjoyed it a great deal and would watch it again.
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Date: 2010-01-01 05:16 pm (UTC)It's currently -12c with the wind making it feel like -19c. I'll sell a child for the need for air conditioning. lol
Happy New Year, darling!
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Date: 2010-01-03 02:04 am (UTC)Happy New year to you, too!
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Date: 2010-01-01 06:06 pm (UTC)Although, going to see it with a boy who really loves action movies, he really, really loved all of that movie.
I wasn't bored, or confused, because the plot was pretty much in your face all the time, except when Holmes is getting his ass kicked in boxing rings.
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Date: 2010-01-03 02:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 08:26 pm (UTC)...
...
excuse me, I may be some time...
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Date: 2010-01-03 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 02:48 am (UTC)And, ok, I don't get why Mary tossed her drink at Holmes, because she was warned and she still asked. Possibly I wasn't paying enough attention because I thought the scene was going to hit my embarrassment squick.
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Date: 2010-01-02 11:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 12:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 12:19 pm (UTC)Next week, gelato? I'm back at work, but any day after.
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Date: 2010-01-02 12:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 12:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 12:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 12:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 12:38 pm (UTC)Are you off to Goulburn, BTW? It's all booked out, alas! And we have no air con on the car, I think I have to bail.
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Date: 2010-01-02 12:46 pm (UTC)I am indeed! Boo booked out! More boo to no ac in the car!