Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Directed by: Guy Ritchie | 128 minutes | action, drama, thriller, adventure, crime | Actors: Rachel McAdams, Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong, Kelly Reilly, Eddie Marsan, James Fox, Hans Matheson, William Hope, Bronagh Gallagher, Geraldine James, William Houston, Robert Maillet, Joe Egan, Robert Stone, David Garrick, James A. Stephens, Terry Taplin

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, his friend, crime-fighting companion and roommate at 221B Baker Street, joins Scotland Yard’s Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) on a raid. However, Holmes and Watson are ‘accidentally’ a little too early. They intervene in a secret ritual in which a young woman in a white dress lies on an altar. The ritual’s leader turns out to be none other than the influential Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). At the hands of Holmes and Watson, Blackwood disappears behind bars and is subsequently sentenced to the noose. His last request is to speak to Sherlock Holmes and that request is granted. Holmes becomes intrigued by this man who seems to have dark powers. Blackwood can influence the minds of others and do things for which there is no explanation. He even claims he can rise from the dead, but when Dr. Watson checks his corpse after the execution, he can only find death by asphyxiation.

With Lord Blackwood safely in his coffin, things seem to be calming down, except Holmes acts like a jealous child towards Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly), Watson’s fiancée. Holmes struggles to sabotage Watson’s impending move to a house for Mary and him together. The move also marks the end of their many years of collaboration. But of course, this isn’t the only thing Holmes has to worry about. Death does not prove the end for Lord Blackwood, as he had confidently announced, and Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) appears on the scene, the only woman Holmes respects, admiring even her criminal creativity. However, it will not be a romantic get-together. Irene Adler is forced by an unknown client to take advantage of Holmes’s affection for her.

With two such staggering adversaries, Sherlock Holmes has a lot of work to do, with or without Dr. Watson. A delightful interpretation of the indestructible detective duo Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Guy Ritchie has managed to create a very tasty version of this illustrious pair with great respect for the legacy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. With great speed, mutual humor and an unrelenting attachment to each other, they take on powerful, apparently invincible opponents. Just like a good Holmes movie should be.

The interplay between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law is a lot of fun, but also grim in a funny way. Robert Downey Jr. With his performance of Sherlock Holmes, he is on a par with interpreters such as Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett by also showing the less good sides of the extremely intelligent detective without losing respect. Particularly clever is the way Guy Ritchie has kept intact the magic of Holmes’ tech-savvy investigative methods, one of the character’s most appealing components. These in themselves old-fashioned delights are even exciting for an audience that is by now quite used to that area. The raw physical side of Holmes, who as a boxer can also defeat bigger opponents, purely by using his brain optimally to compensate for his lesser muscle mass and body size, is very attractive.

This violent side of the pugilist Holmes has been left untapped in many performances, while this, combined with his addiction to narcotics and his stern sense of justice, makes his character so intriguing. A wonderful film with a lot of action performed at a high tempo, witty acting and sets, interiors and clothing to pass through a ring. Don’t hesitate, just go see and enjoy.