In "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” it is clear that the team of Robert Downey Jr., Guy Ritchie and producer Joel Silver have completely taken over the playground, delivering an impeccably timed, fun joyride employing equal parts wit and action.
In this sequel to 2009’s “Sherlock Holmes,” also helmed by Ritchie, “two gentlemen are working at cross purposes.” Those two gentlemen are the immortal and inimitable Sherlock Holmes (Downey) and his arch-enemy, the evil Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris, hitting all the right notes). The rivalry between these men of equal intellect and ruthlessness is a non-stop thrill-ride in which each tries to destroy the other. Moriarty has no qualms about destroying the rest of the world in the process and Holmes’ saving grace is his heart, which has no qualms about taking Moriarty down by any means necessary as long as he can protect those he loves.
Within minutes of the beginning of the film, Sherly (as his brother Mycroft, played by Stephen Fry, calls him) has failed at this first goal when Moriarty manages to infect Sherlock’s love (Rachel McAdam’s Irene Adler) with a rare form of tuberculosis to which she succumbed “almost instantaneously.” This act of perfidy is only the latest in a spider web of such acts – a bombing in an auction house, the suicide of an Austrian crown prince – all of which, to Sherlock’s all-seeing eyes are rooted in the actions of the greatest evil master-mind in Europe. The game is really on, however, once Sherlock goes to Moriarty and asks that he take the soon-to-be-married Watson (Jude Law) and his wife out of the equation. When Moriarty refuses, the tension increases as Sherlock adds the goal of protecting his friend to his goal of defeating the Professor.
A chase across Europe ensues – England by train, the channel by boat, into Switzerland by Shetland pony – which is a cornucopia of disguises, assassination attempts and heart-poundingly close near misses as Sherlock works to foil Moriarty’s attempt to plunge Europe into war.
This is a movie that begs to be seen more than once. Not only does the action move rapidly but Ritchie has managed to find a way to break one of the cardinal rules of filmmaking and make it work. Coincidence. Coincidence isn’t supposed to work in movies. Nonetheless, what is normally referred to as coincidence is one of the most important aspects of this film, the McGuffin that makes the film move forward. Sherlock “sees everything” therefore everything is at hand for him. Ritchie’s portrayal of internal monologues – most Sherlock’s, some Moriarty’s, and others spread out among the other characters – take these moments of coincidence and impose logic and reason upon them, make them the only possible move that an intelligent and aware person would make. Fascinating.
The acting – no, it’s not really the acting – the casting is perfect. Robert Downey, Jr., he of the impeccable English accent and irrepressible air of cockiness, is simply perfect. He is compelling to watch, grabbing each scene greedily and raising the bar so high that the rest of the cast is forced to pull their best out and drape themselves over it. Law’s Dr. Watson is not only the consummate sidekick, he’s allowed several scenes in which he shines, showing off what he’s learned at the great master’s side. Naomi Rapace, the original “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” is incandescent in the role of a gypsy who cleans up very nicely.
Each role in this film, no matter how tiny, is a gem all on its own, no matter how brief the glance that the audience is allowed before the film goes careening madly off in a new direction.
DIRECTOR: Guy Ritchie SCREENWRITERS: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (characters) PRODUCERS: Bruce Berman, Joel Silver CAST: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace RUN TIME: 129 minutes MPAA RATING: PG-13
