Ryan McNeil
Sequels are tricky. Change the formula drastically, audiences will get their haunches up and clamour for the first. Do the same thing you did the first time, people will cry “repetition”. So unless you raise the bar to levels achieved once every decade or so, one has to ask one’s self “Why bother?”. If you’re me, and the project in question is one like SHERLOCK HOLMES, I vote that you bother because it gives the chance for more fun.
Our film opens with Grace Adler (Rachel McAdams) delivering a package in exchange for a letter. The transaction is interrupted by Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.), sending Adler back to her contact empty-handed. This isn’t such a great thing, as her contact happens to be Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris).
In trying to decipher the letter’s importance, Holmes enlists the help of his soon-to-be-married partner Dr. James Watson (Jude Law). Together they seek out the letter’s intended recipient; a gypsy named Sizma (Noomi Rapace). Unfortunately, before any answers can be ascertained, a ballroom blitz breaks out and they lose every lead.
Holmes decides to confront Moriarty himself, and in so doing gets a good look at just what he’s up against: a man every bit as intelligent and cunnin g as he is, and who is inexplicably up to no good.
Moriarty’s deviousness sends Holmes and the newly married Watson back in search of Sizma. As if finding this gypsy won’t be hard enough, they still need to figure out what she has to do with Moriarty’s plans…and hope they can figure it all out in time to save the day.
The constant for a film like SHERLOCK, is that its success is pinned to its star. Knowing that, one has to call GAME OF SHADOWS a success because Robert Downey Jr. Is having a lot of fun in this film. It doesn’t hurt that he’s been given a lot of witty actors to play off, and Downey Jr. doesn’t waste a single volley they set for him. He has a clever way about him naturally, and with the character of Holmes finds the sweet spot between smarm and charm. Whether he’s trotting out increasingly silly disguises, or complimenting the quality of hedgehog goulash, it’s clear that for Downey Jr. this is still a project of joy.
A welcome addition to the series is the addition of Jared Harris as Moriarty. In casting the heavy of the stories, the fillmmakers needed to pay special attention to how the dastardly villain would counterbalance Holmes, and Harris does so wonderfully. He’s got mischief in his eyes, and calculation in his voice. He is every bit as intelligent as our hero but not nearly as madcap. His grand scheme is plausible, which makes his villainy all the more genuine in the film. Moriarty’s wit – and likewise Harris’ – is finally let off the leash in the ultimate showdown between the two characters, which is a carefully crafted scene I dare not spoil.
Attention to colourful characters and casting is what the SHERLOCK films have done best and what keeps me interested. It’s likely easier and cheaper to fill roles like Sezma and Mycroft with no-names. By giving them to actors with true presence like Noomi Rapace’s and Stephen Fry, you give Holmes and Watson the right records to keep their kooky dance going. Better still is the way the film primarily relies on a new lot of characters/actors, since it avoids a common pit sequels stumble into. Far too often, someone gets unintentionally short-changed when new characters have to share the ball with the returning squad. Conversely, SHERLOCK’s script and overall flow strikes a perfect balance…giving everyone their clever touches, even of they are fleeting.
The whole film feels much less “CSI London” than the first, which could turn some viewers off and endear others (I count myself amongst the latter). The sequel is once again laced with Holmes using methodic reasoning to map out fistfights and escape plans, but this time out he isn’t finding a clue in every mound of dirt. Instead, director Guy Ritchie seems hellbent on tossing the inspector and the doctor into the line of fire, and blowing up everything along that very line. When it’s not pyrotechnics or gunfire on display, it’s straight-up brawls which our heroes are well served in.
There are flaws to the film, as there were the first time. Primarily, the film’s flaws are ones of rhythm. The best moments sometimes seem out of synch, and the ultimate payoff feels more deduced than explored. Likewise, it could be argued that the film slightly underuses Noomi Rapace (though it does give her many opportunities to eat). Many like myself were looking forward to her involvement with this movie, however she doesn’t bring much to the film that many other feisty ingenues couldn’t have provided.
All said though, these are forgivable flaws that don’t drag down the whole movie. GAME OF SHADOWS’ shortcomings are equal to its predecessor’s shortcomings, making them a wash.
Overall, the “who” from the whodunnit is explained early, leaving us a lot of time to settle in and watch as the heroes try to save the day. As such, the emphasis is more on Holmes explaining how things were done and using it to jettison us forward through the plot. The film works very well in concert with its predecessor, and avoids the sin of being a direct rehash. Thus, the question becomes what a filmgoer wants: “more” or “more of the same”? This time, I count myself amongst the former.
Hm… I’m no the fence whether to watch this or not. I was thoroughly entertained by the first one and didn’t really spot the flaws there might have been. I sort of fell in love with Sherlock again. But I’ve heard some pretty bad stuff about the sequel and Corey really disliked it. I figure it won’t be on top of my priority list. There’s a lot to watch currently.
Corey disliked it in comparison to the BBC series, so take his position with a grain of salt. There’s a glut of options at the theatre right now, so as much as I enjoyed it, I’d easily be able to suggest ten films you’d want to see before getting to this.
I really enjoyed this film, even more so than the first. I think you are spot on about how good Robert Downey Jr. was in this film. I thought Stephen Fry really added something a little bit different as well.
I read somewhere yesterday that Fry could have been cast as Moriarty – which I think would have been fun, but I like him just as he is. I’m thinking people like you and I are in the minority on this one Caz: Everywhere I look around the blogosphere, this flick is generally loathed.
I really enjoyed the first so I am actually excited to see this one, despite all the criticism. Good to hear the positive thoughts!
Sorry for the delay in responding here Matt, and welcome to The Matinee!
In many ways it follows the same path the first one established, but without the spectre of secret societies. RDJ and Jude are both having a lot of fun and some of the set pieces are pretty badass. Looking forward to reading your post on it when you do finally catch up with it.