Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry and Jared Harris
Releasing in cinemas: 5 January 2012
Rated: M

With Guy Ritchie’s first Sherlock Holmes having been one of the break-out hits of 2010, it’s no surprise that the sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, doesn’t stray far from the formula. The whole Holmes-as-action-hero milieu is back, providing plenty of entertainment for the masses, while undoubtedly irking the purists.

The plot of this sequel is based loosely on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s thriller ‘The Final Problem’; which was intended as the last of his Sherlock stories. History records that wasn’t the case, and he produced several more adventures for the brilliant detective. While there are hints at finality in this film too, only the foolhardy would rule out the prospect of another sequel.

The plot sees Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and his loyal assistant Dr Watson (Jude Law) lock horns with the most dastardly villain in the whole Conan Doyle canon, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). It seems that, despite the strictures of his academic stipend and the proceeds of some rather dry tomes on mathematics, the wily Moriarty has been able to acquire (legitimately, but without any paper trail) several war-related enterprises, including cotton mills and munitions factories.

Problem is, the year is 1891 and despite a lot of posturing by the great powers, no one is seriously considering starting a shooting war. Moriarty plans to upset all that with the help of groups of Anarchists; who are engaged in a campaign of planting bombs in public places, but not claiming responsibility, letting the nations concerned draw conclusions that one of their rivals must have been responsible. But when that doesn’t ignite the powder keg, Moriarty resorts to something even more dangerous.

As I mentioned, the Holmes purists will undoubtedly be infuriated by the liberties taken by the film. I suspect those with an interest in history will feel likewise, with the screenwriting team of Michele and Kieran Mulroney playing fast and loose with historical facts. As an example only, there are several references to the Entente Cordiale, the treaty between England and France that cemented the alliance that would endure into World War I and beyond. Trouble is, the Entente Cordiale wasn’t signed until 1904; some 13 years after the setting in the film.

The thing is though that none of this matters. Audiences are going to pay their money to be entertained, and on that front, the film succeeds utterly. There’s scarcely a dull moment as Ritchie barrels the action along; punctuated only by enough humour - indeed, comedy - to keep things nice and frothy.

As with the first Sherlock Holmes, this film is built around some spectacular set-pieces; including a cat-and-mouse game on a train, several dramatic explosions and the climactic final showdown at (a modified) Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland. They’re separated by just enough exposition and dialogue to keep the story moving forward, as well as some very funny scenes, one of which features an image of Stephen Fry that I would sooner not have seen.

The acting is well up to standard for this kind of Hollywood blockbuster. Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man) is at his raffish best as the super-intelligent sleuth; while Jude Law (Contagion) for once has to play second fiddle. Jared Harris has some nice moments as Moriarty; while Noomi Rapace (The Girl Who Played with Fire), in her English language debut, makes an impression as a gypsy woman who guides Holmes and Watson into Switzerland. In the supporting cast, Stephen Fry (Alice in Wonderland) is impressively flamboyant as Holmes’ brother Mycroft; Kelly Reilly (Me and Orson Welles) reprises her role from the first film as Mary, albeit that she’s now Mrs Watson; and both Rachel McAdams (Midnight in Paris) and Eddie Marsan (War Horse) also re-appear, though much more briefly than previously.

I must say I warmed to this revised, re-written and re-imagined Holmes adventure. Along with the recent Tintin, this is rollicking school holiday fare - although this film is clearly aimed at an older audience than Tintin (note: the M rating is for violence, and some of it is pretty graphic). Conan Doyle it is not, but it is an eminently entertaining action movie. 

David Edwards