I went to see Sherlock Holmes with a couple of friends this past Monday evening. The sizable theater filled up about halfway by the time previews began.
The name "Sherlock Holmes" was something I was vaguely familiar with prior to the film. I knew he was some type of detective and possibly fictional. Also, his first name is often used in conjunction with a profanity as a common expression when one rebukes an individual who has just stated the obvious. I think you know what I'm referring to.
During the course of the film, I was easily captivated by the classic "solving a mystery" plot. The script was incredibly witty and sophisticated. It had the right touch of traditional British humor (dry) and at the same time had the pacing of an American comedy. It's extremely accessible to a wide-range audience.
Guy Ritchie's directorial choice with Robert Downey, Jr. (Holmes) was fascinating. There was a seamless transition of an Adrian Monk type obsessive compulsive observation and the street-tough mindset that helped him in many situations in the film. "Holmes was a gentleman, but he was also a street guy who could scruff it up a bit. I thought the story had lost that part of its essence. I like street life, but I like grand things, too. Being able to move within those two worlds appealed to me," said Ritchie in an interview.
After seeing the film, I learned that Sherlock Holmes was indeed a fictional character who first appeared in print in 1887. Characterized by the Scottish author and phyisican Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes was famed for his vast knowlege of many topics and attention to tiny details to solive big cases. Doyle wrote four novels and fifty six short stories that feature Holmes.
If you can't catch this film in theaters, I would definitely recommend it as a rental for movie night at home. It has a great balance of humor, action, and suspense all packaged into a mere two hours.
Holmes and Dr. Watston discussing the mystery.
