by Jade Lindley
There have been so many film incarnations of Sherlock Holmes, that we have lost count. But there is one actor who made Holmes relevant again, and made him appeal to a wider audience, and that was Robert Downey Jr. Sure he is definitely a nice piece of eye candy, but his overall cockiness, wit and charm is a nice gloss to the character which just gives Holmes’s personality all the more bite. Also having been directed by Guy Ritchie who is famous for Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, it reminded audiences that if there is anyone that can pull off Holmes with having definite edge it was him. And let’s face it Ritchie still had a lot of making up to do after he directed then wife Madonna in the abortion that is, Swept Away.
There have been so many film incarnations of Sherlock Holmes, that we have lost count. But there is one actor who made Holmes relevant again, and made him appeal to a wider audience, and that was Robert Downey Jr. Sure he is definitely a nice piece of eye candy, but his overall cockiness, wit and charm is a nice gloss to the character which just gives Holmes’s personality all the more bite. Also having been directed by Guy Ritchie who is famous for Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, it reminded audiences that if there is anyone that can pull off Holmes with having definite edge it was him. And let’s face it Ritchie still had a lot of making up to do after he directed then wife Madonna in the abortion that is, Swept Away.
After many years of Sherlock Holmes films which were something your nanna would watch, it was the 2009 adaptation which broadened it’s appeal. And while some may say that Sherlock was miscast, you cannot deny that Downey Jr brought a new flavour to the role and made him stand out from the previous actors who came before him. Jude Law was definitely an interesting choice to play Watson, because to be honest he had zero appeal to me in any other films I had seen him in. But I was surprised at just how funny and how spot on his comedic timing could be. It is obvious within both of the revamped Sherlock Holmes films that Downey Jr, and Law bounce off each other perfectly, and it’s their complex yet comedic friendship which is a huge spotlight in both of the films.
This new look of the Sherlock Holmes films definitely divided audiences, while some relished this new look and approach, a lot believed Homes and Watson should be sitting in their parlour room, sipping on scotch and basking in the rich mahogany. And while that is all well and good, famous characters in literature need to given that new look to adapt to the times. You wouldn’t expect James Bond to be the same in every single film, as long as they keep to the core source material, there shouldn’t be a problem. The best way to describe Ritchie’s films is that he put a modern day Sherlock into an olden day setting, which could be disastrous in theory, but it totally works. Having that kind of approach to the film makes Holmes’s uniqueness all the more enjoyable to watch.
This new look of the Sherlock Holmes films definitely divided audiences, while some relished this new look and approach, a lot believed Homes and Watson should be sitting in their parlour room, sipping on scotch and basking in the rich mahogany. And while that is all well and good, famous characters in literature need to given that new look to adapt to the times. You wouldn’t expect James Bond to be the same in every single film, as long as they keep to the core source material, there shouldn’t be a problem. The best way to describe Ritchie’s films is that he put a modern day Sherlock into an olden day setting, which could be disastrous in theory, but it totally works. Having that kind of approach to the film makes Holmes’s uniqueness all the more enjoyable to watch.
Whether it’s Basil Rathbone, Christopher Plummer, Robert Downey Jr or Benedict ‘dreamboat’ Cumberbatch portraying Sherlock Holmes, there is one thing everyone should agree on, each and every portrayal of the character is essential to the Sherlock Holmes legacy. They have brought something new, fresh and relevant from their time to the table, and that is what makes it so wonderful. While I do love previous portrayals of Sherlock, I do believe it was Guy Ritchie’s films that definitely gave it more flavour and individuality and it was something that audiences weren’t expecting but were secretly waiting for.
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