Preview: Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Synopsis:

One of literature's great detectives is adapted to the big screen to tackle a nemesis who threatens all of England.

• Poster: B; B; B

Review:

This pair of posters, highlighting the film's dynamic duo, is well designed. They are identically except for the subjects of the poster who are exquisitely dressed and recognizable enough to appeal to a mass audience.

Before, we had only Holmes and Watson. Now, we have a poster for Rachel McAdams' character Irene Adler. And strangely enough, only she and Robert Downey Jr. have posters available all All Posters...there's nothing new about this third poster, but it does blend in with the theme of the others.

• Trailer: C; C-

Review:

Less like a good detective story and more like a Van Helsing-style actioner, Sherlock Holmes has some gorgeous design elements, but feels more hollow and self-absorbed than it should have been.

Sherlock Holmes being re-invented as an actioner just seems antithetical to the classic literary detective who used his smarts to solve crimes. Of course, in the hands of Guy Ritchie, can we really be surprised?

Oscar Prospects:

I could see some nominations in the Art Direction and Costume Design categories, but I doubt Guy Ritchie's going to be making a movie that would appeal to the Academy as a whole. This probably means that Robert Downey Jr. will not be picking up an Oscar nomintion for Actor as we once might have predicted, though I could see Jude Law sneaking in to Support if the field ends up being weak.

Release Date:

• December 25, 2009

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (May 17, 2009) Original

-Wesley Lovell (July 19, 2009) New Trailer; New Posters

-Wesley Lovell (March 14, 2010) New Poster; Buy the Poster Enabled