Sherlock Holmes " A Game Of Shadows"

SHERLOCK HOLMES

“A GAME OF SHADOWS”

MOVIE REVIEW
 POSTED BY:

DeAlan Wilson
Entertainment Correspondent/Writer

OK, forgive me, forgive me all you Sherlock Holmes fans.  I must admit, I did not see the 2009 first part of Sherlock Holmes.  Now that I have gotten that confession out of the way, let me tell you.  Sherlock Holmes “A Game Of Shadows” is simply fantastic!  It will knock you off your feet.  The cinematography alone will make you sit there with your mouth wide open saying to yourself “…WOW! How did they do that?”

Now, for someone who was not totally familiar with the premise of the Sherlock Holmes storyline, I must admit I spent the first part of the movie (say 20-25 minutes, or so) wondering what in the world was going on.  There is lots of action in the beginning of the film that I guess I would have better understood if I had seen part 1.  But, even without seeing the 1^st part, the action really kept me on the edge of my seat and it did not take Director Guy Ritchie  long to bring us ‘first-timers’ up to speed. 

Jude Law plays Dr. Watson
as Kelly Reilly plays his wife Mary.
Photo: Courtesy - Warner Bros.

Two-time Academy Award nominee, Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.  Of course, Director, Ritchie brings back Oscar nominee and seasoned stage actor Jude Law (Tony Award nominee/Hamlet on Broadway-2009) to revive his role of Sherlock Holmes’ crime solving partner, Dr. Watson.



Classical Actor Jared Harrisplays the villian James Moriarty
Photo: Courtesy - Warner Bros.



In Sherlock Holmes “A Game Of Shadows”, Holmes, who has always been the smartest man in the room, faces a fresh challenge. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor James Moriarty, brilliantly played by Jared Harris (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and the soon to be released, “Lincoln” by Director Steven Spielberg).  Not only is Professor Moriarty Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with his complete lack of conscience, may give him a slight advantage over Holmes. 

Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes
with partner Dr. Watson as played by
Jude Law. 

Photo: Courtesy - Warner Bros.

Without giving away too much of the plot, the story unfolds as around the globe, headlines break the news: a scandal takes down an Indian cotton tycoon; a Chinese opium trader dies of an apparent overdose; bombings in Strasbourg and Vienna; the death of an American steel magnate… etc.   No one sees the connective thread between all these seemingly random events—no one, that is, except the great detective, Sherlock Holmes.  As Holmes digs deeper into this ruthless plot he finds Moriarty at the center of it all. 

Director of photography, Philippe Rousselot along with production designer Sarah Greenwood, editor James Herbert, costume designer Jenny Beavan, and composer Hans Zimmer all do a wonderful job in taking us on a journey following Holmes out of London and on an action-packed adventure around the globe to such places as France, Germany and finally Switzerland.

Noomi Rapace makes a grand entrance in her first English
speaking film as  Gypsy Madam Simza.
Photo: Courtesy - Warner Bros.

The acting sequences in this film are phenomenal.  Of course, we would expect such from seasoned film actors like Robert Downy Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris and Stephen Fry (who plays Holmes’ decidedly eccentric older brother, Mycroft Holmes).  But this film will undoubtedly prove to be a breakout performance by Swedish actress Noomi Rapace who plays a mysterious Gypsy woman named Madam Simza.  In the film, Madam Simza becomes allies with Holmes and Watson as they seek to stop the mad-man, Moriarty.    (It’s kind of hard to believe that this is the very first English speaking film for Rapace.)  She lays down some acting laws of her own proving her performance to be worthy of much respect.  I feel very comfortable in saying Hollywood actresses look out.  There is a new girl in town and she is not playing around.    (Rapace gained international attention in the Swedish film “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”.) Rapace is not only ‘drop-dead gorgeous’ in this film, but, she played her role with strength and power.  Yet, there was an underlying sense of sensitivity in her portrayal that made us actually care about this gypsy character.

Raqchel McAdams returns as
Irene Adler.
Photo: Courtesy - Warner Bros.



Other acting shout-outs go to Rachel McAdams who returns to Sherlock Holmes in her role of Irene Adler.   Eddie Marsan  is featured as the ruthless co-villain, Inspector Lestrade and actress Kelly Reilly reprises her role as Dr. Watson’s wife Mary.  The strong ensemble cast proves to be one of the greatest assets of this film.  As you watch all the great cinematography, special effects and more, you never get the sense as if something is missing in the area of acting.  In many big-budget films I have personally witnessed this to be the case.  It is always good the see great acting  combined with big-budgets.   

Noomi Rapace, Downey Jr. and Jude Lawflee through the forest in Sherlock
Holmes "A Game Of  Shadows".
Photo: Courtesy - Warner Bros.

In bringing this production to life, Director, Guy Ritchie reassembled the same team of top producers who helped him create the first Sherlock Holmes.  Producers Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin all joined Ritchie on this film.  To write the screenplay for this new Sherlock Holmes adventure they enlisted the husband-and-wife writing team of Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney (writers and directors of the 2009 film “Paper Man” as well as the upcoming feature films: “Divide” for Ron Howard and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” for Tim Burton.) Sherlock Holmes “A Game Of Shadows” is definitely work your money and will be a fun, action filled adventure for you to see this holiday season.  And even if (like me) you are not totally familiar with the first Sherlock Holmes Guy Ritchie directed, you will still be able to follow this storyline and enjoy the plot and action of this movie.  I did.

DeAlan Wilson
Entertainment Writer/Correspondent

Email: DeAlanW@aol.com