Edgy, my dear Holmes?

Monday, January 11, 2010
Edgy, my dear holmes?
Edgy, my dear Holmes?

WARNING: Hard core fans of Conan Doyles hero, I ask that you not to be indulgent but open minded, and non judgmental. Give yourself to rediscover Holmes and non-fans, discover him.

Downey Jr, small but fit, blood smeared and sweaty faces a thug, double his size. A little voice in his head methodically, logically, precisely calculates how to defeat his opponent. Which he then does. One of my favourite scenes in the film. But Sherlock Holmes just happens to be in a boxing ring.

You cannot deny, this is a fun film, in fact it’s a CRACKER of a film, but it isn’t Holmes, at least not like we’ve always known him! Now don’t get me wrong, I liked that Ritchie gives his Holmes brains and brawn, and all those bits of smart deductive reasoning were actually my favourite parts of the film and I wish he’d stayed with them more. But Ritchie takes HOLMES into a whole, new terrain giving us a thumping, racing, action packed, fantasy adventure complete with classic good versus evil and age old magic! While stuff gets melodramatic especially in the second half, the accents are sometimes garbled/difficult to understand, the plot is crowded, and lacks that simple elegance and layered wit of the originals, and the films sets things up ALL too easily for a sequel, Ritchie does it all with sweeping confidence, fabulous costumes, fantastic cinematography, a moody atmosphere, and a an irresistible leading pair.

Eccentric, gruff and often very funny, Downey Jr, is at is wide eyed, intelligent best and makes for a tiny, power-packed, not always ‘stable’ but incredibly bright modern day Holmes, and the chemistry between LAW & him like an old school screwball comedy is lively, palpable, and engaging and holds this one together. (Again, the better parts of the film are all those bits of repartee, comraderie, domestic issues, fisticuffs and the relationship between not just detective and sidekick but also friends, brothers, roommates. Any underlying homoerotic tendencies are open to debate… as we know both Holmes addiction issues and homosexuality have always been open ended questions… hmmm)

The start of what is obviously going to be a franchise, GUY RITCHIE’s HOLMES offers little in terms of plot but sails through on the strength of its characters, concept and two central actors. lets hope the next one stays with them more and keeps things a little simpler and frill-less. Nonetheless, LAW & DOWNEY JR. are the cooolest duo around at the movies for now! and this one is a contemporary, stylish, beautiful to watch version of Conan Doyle’s famous detective hero stamped with Ritchie’s trademarks- darkly comic, often violent, always clever and very entertaining on a scale even the director hasnt ventured into before this!

ira's top picks of 2009

Ira's picks 2009


1. AVATAR: for being unlike anything I have seen this year, for being a full blown movie going experience; for James Cameron, the smartest commercial storyteller around who spends millions of dollars and 12 years conceptualizing and creating a nether world that takes mankind back to its most primitive state ensuring UNIVERSAL appeal. and who brings back the AWE & WONDER to movie going (THEATRICALLY especially) and reminds us all of the ability of cinema to transport you- not merely entertain, overwhelm, enlighten, move - which others do in perhaps greater and varying degrees but simply make you say WOW.

2. DISTRICT 9: for being the most imaginative and intelligent sci fi film I have seen to date and this year with a superb performance by SHARPLEY (guy who plays lead WIKUS) and for standing out this year with a 30 mill budget versus 300 mill above (which let me say was at least USED wisely by Cameron)


3. UP: for being another gem from PIXAR- not their best ever, but gentle, unusual, and imaginative, and for going against expectations (Russells GPS falling out, talking dogs, CARL's hero MUNTZ turns out to be an asshole etc) and with one of the most lyrical efficiently made transitions from youth to old age that I have ever seen

4. STAR TREK: for converting a non trekkie into a fan ie me and for being contemporary and faithful to the series and working overall as a summer blockbuster with style, humor, and lots of fun. SPOCK IS AWESOME!

5. HANGOVER: for making me laugh the most this year!! For GALIFIANIKIS and for having super repeat value- seen it 3 times and laughing almost consistently throughout each time.


Inglourious Basterds is IN my top 10 but not 5…had some issues with it - scenes work as individual units but wasn’t sure what he was trying to say as a whole .. the attitude also felt also a bit juvenile for a director like tranatino and too familiar to what he always does , nazi/jew very touchy but also potentially meaty subject.. very stylish film as always but without a clear arc and the soul that I expected.. more so cause I usually love tarantino so i was disappointed.. did love WALTZ’s performance though the little known austrian actor who i think is a very strong contender for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR at the ACADEMY AWARDS!