Directed by Guy Ritchie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is the sequel to the 2009 film based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective character.
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law reprise their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as they begin investigating a series of seemingly unrelated terrorist attacks. Shortly after Watson’s wedding with Mary (Kelly Reilly), Sherlock realises that the bombings around Europe are part of a plan to foment war between France and Germany. With the help of Sherlock’s brother Mycroft (Stephen Fry), they team up with gypsy woman Madame Simza (Noomi Rapace) to bring down the evil Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), who, to make matters even more tense, has poisoned Sherlock’s ex-wife Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams).
Full of brilliant action and great performances, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is very much like its predecessor. With more disguises for Sherlock to pull off, and even more semi-homoerotic moments between him and Dr. Watson that we ever so love. This latest installment in the franchise is both great as a follow-up from its predecessor and also as a stand alone film, with only a few things left to figure out for yourself if you had no knowledge of the previous relationships between the characters.
One of the best things about the film, I feel, is both the art direction and costume design. Ritchie’s take on the adaptation and the appearance of the Victorian society where Sherlock lived is brilliant and really compliments the books well. Not only do the characters look amazing, but the movies settings showed great attention to detail.
One part that wasn’t worked on well, however, was the character of Irene, and we are left to presume that she will not be returning if there were to be a third installment in the franchise. I picked up that she was being used as a form of compensation for Sherlock to play along with Moriarty’s plans, but apparently it was an action rendering her character unneeded. I only wish they played on her romance with Sherlock more before getting rid of her character.
As with the first film, both Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law make a brilliant detective duo, and it is this relationship that the film is about, although it was not so much of a focus in this film as it was in the first. The two work so well together, and it is through them that franchise has been so well received.
Stephen Fry is a great addition to the cast, suiting the role of Mycroft extremely well and provoking a few scenes of laughter throughout. It was great to watch him on the big screen and I look forward to seeing him again in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit later this year. As for Noomi Rapace, it was very interesting to see her in a supporting role after starring as the lead in the Swedish version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy. I have been reading that she’s set for more English-language roles over the next year (including Ridley Scott’s Prometheus), and based on her performance here she looks set for big things.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows is ultimately an easy-going film that is enjoyable to watch, and if you liked the first film then I would get to the cinema to see it.
4/5
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was released on 16th December 2011, here’s the trailer:
