Sherlock Holmes is an action/comedy directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong, Rachel McAdams, Eddie Marsan, Kelly Reilly, and Robert Maillet.
We start off with the titular sleuth (Downey Jr) and his trusty companion Watson (Law) interrupting a supposed Satanic ritual led by the villainous Lord Blackwood (Strong), who is promptly sent to hang for multiple murder (but I mean, with a name like "Lord Blackwood," what the hell else was he supposed to do?). Blackwood informs Holmes that he intends to rise from death and come back to do evil supernatural shit, which Holmes understandably dismisses, but then apparently does rise from the grave and rejoin his old mystic order in an attempt to murder Parliament and, like, rule Britannia.
Into all this is Holmes' rival and love interest, Irene Adler (McAdams), who attempts to hire Holmes on behalf of her mysterious boss, who of course turns out to be Professor Moriarty (Andrew Jack or Jared Harris, depending on when you watch the movie).
Sherlock Holmes is portrayed, in some ways, closer to the source material than other cinematic depictions. He's a capable fighter as well as a detective, and also skilled in disguise and acting. But on the other hand, I don't remember Holmes ever doing bare-knuckle underground boxing on the side in the books (mind, I haven't read them all). It doesn't much matter; Ritchie and Downey Jr have an interpretation of the character and it works and it's consistent. The chemistry between Holmes and Watson makes them an old married couple, which of course means that Holmes' world is upended when Watson gets engaged to a lovely governess (Reilly). The action sequences also incorporate Holmes' ability to immediately deduce useful facts about an opponent and employ the information.
I kinda wish Holmes had used his deduction magic-vision on Blackwood and then either been wrong or misled. While I also appreciate the scene of Holmes re-enacting the magic ritual in a grubby apartment, I've never been quite clear on why (other than because it makes for a cool montage-y sort of scene). But that's picking nits; it's a clever take on the source material, the cast makes the relationships between the characters work (although Blackwood stands out as an almost cartoonish villain, although that's probably deliberate to differentiate him from Moriarty, and also, like, they cast Mark Strong).
Haven't seen the sequel, suppose I should watch it before Netflix goes belly-up.
My Grade: A-
Rewatch Value: High
Next up: Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
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