Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Director:

Guy Ritchie

Writers (WGA):

Michael Robert Johnson (screenplay) and
Anthony Peckham (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Nothing Escapes Him

Plot:

Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.

Plot Keywords:

Sherlock Holmes | Handcuffed To Bedpost | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Robert Downey Jr.	...	Sherlock Holmes
Jude Law	...	Dr. John Watson
Rachel McAdams	...	Irene Adler
Mark Strong	...	Lord Blackwood
Eddie Marsan	...	Inspector Lestrade
Robert Maillet	...	Dredger
Geraldine James	...	Mrs. Hudson
Kelly Reilly	...	Mary Morstan
William Houston	...	Constable Clark
Hans Matheson	...	Lord Coward
James Fox	...	Sir Thomas
William Hope	...	Ambassador Standish
Clive Russell	...	Captain Tanner
Oran Gurel	...	Reordan
David Garrick	...	McMurdo

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material.

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

UK | Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45714) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | South Korea:12 | Finland:K-13 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Brompton Cemetery, Fulham Road, West Brompton, London, England, UK

Company:

Lin Pictures

Trivia:

The part of Sherlock Holmes has been previously played by Michael Caine, while Watson is played in this film by Jude Law. Law took over Caine's role in Alfie (2004) and Sleuth (2007), appearing together with him in the latter film.

Quotes:

[From trailer]
[Holmes is handcuffed to the bed naked with only a pillow covering him. A maid walks in and screams]
Sherlock Holmes: Madame, I need you to remain calm and trust me, I'm a professional. Beneath this pillow lies the key to my release.
[the maid screams again and runs away]

Movie Connections:

Featured in 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV)

Has "Busted Franchise" Written All Over It

I really wanted to say something good about this one, but I really can't. Guy {Madonna's ex} Ritchie modern take on the classic Conan-Doyle stories seems to have been made for a contemporary audience who has no clue {get it?}-on who Holmes is. Downey totally fails as Holmes in a character who is too modern-and possibly too ambigiously gay for the role-not that there's anything wrong with that. Law is just alright as Watson and he does try to bring some comic relief to the character. The story has Holmes trying to stop a plot to destroy London. There are the usual CGI scenes, but for some reason most of them are pretty well done and do manage to capture the essence of what London probably looked like at that time. Even though it is a good looking and well produced movie, it is predictable from start to finish., even though some interesting diversions are placed to add some momentum to the story line. Obviously looking for a new franchise, the producers of this should hope it is a hit at the box office. Movie itself is fairly likable, but it just falls flat on what it has to deliver. That's the trouble with Holmes when new stories are written to cater to contemporary tastes. Prehaps if an original Conan-Doyle story was used, this would have turned out better. Where are Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce when you need them?