Guy Ritchie Film of Sherlock Holmes

[Donald A. Petkus]

I'm relieved that Ritchie's soon to be exwife Madonna was not cast as Irene Adler in the currently in production Sherlock Holmes film, but ....

Some of the recent on location shots show Robert Downey Jr's Sherlock as looking a bit unkempt even when Holmes is not in disguise. Since Holmes had a catlike care in his personal appearance, should I be concerned that this film will be ant-Canonical? Should I be concerned that Ritchie's current film looks like British Pulp Fiction clone? (I wouldn't want Tarantino directing a Holmes film>) Donald

[tigercasual]

Yes, you have every right to be afraid. Although, I'm sure that it could have been worse. When first approached, Guy Ritchie said that Downey was too old. Does that mean he wanted and actor that looked as if he could star on "One Tree Hill"? I don't know, but the prospect scares me. Add to that, Jude Law is very sketchy as Watson.

[Donald A. Petkus]

I hope that it will take more than this film to kill the franchise.

The actor who played Young Sherlock Holmes in the Spielberg film would have been an excellent choice to play Holmes as an adult. I believe his name was Rowe and that he has a considerable acting resume by now, but I suppose he is not "bankable" There was rumor of a film project with him as Holmes but that evaporated some time ago.
At least, they didn't offer it to people like Jim Carrey or Bruce Willis. It's too bad young people will think that all there is to Holmes and Watson is what they see and hear in this film. Donald

[Donald A. Petkus]

Here's a link to what (provisionally) is the Guy Ritchie film coming out at Xmas, courtesy of the Sherlock Holmes Society of France.

http://www.sshf.com/index.php3?file=news&num=685

My fears continue. Donald

[SherlockianGirl]

More fears: I watched an interview recently and the interviewer was questioning Rachel McAdams about her reaction to playing Downey's love interest.

EXCUSE ME? Since when did Sherlock Holmes have a love interest?

I am intrigued by what they might do with this film, but if they end up changing such an essential Canon point, I refuse to equate that character with Sherlock Holmes.

My fear is that people will equate Doyle's character with this new-fangled movie. Holmes has been around a lot longer than that, people. *sigh*

[Donald A. Petkus]

Exactly. I don't mind respectful "re-imaginings" of the Canonical characters, but I think this may be as bad as the Dudley Moore Peter Cook version of HOUN. I hope that Sasha Baron Cohen (Borak) was joking about doing a Holmes film!

I feel that the people making the film don't know the characters. At least they say that Watson will turn out to be a lady's man (duh!!) in reaction to rumors that Holmes and Watson were going to be gay in the film. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I don't think ACD wrote them that way, despite some psychobabble in the past writings on the writings.) Well, at least the film was people talking about Holmes and Watson, so that's good.

[SherlockianGirl]

Agreed. Re-imaginings can be good if the people making them know their characters. These people seem like they're just looking for a cash-cow. It has the potential to ruin Canon for newcomers. I shudder to think of people reading ACD's Canon and saying, "That didn't happen in the movie!"

[Matt Letter]

Does anyone know who is composing the music? That can be a very revealing indicator of the direction of the film. More clearly than anything else, It would demonstrate what kind of stage Richie is setting. Ironically, a soundtrack with Victorian flavor would make the film timeless. Painting with an intensely electronic sound ala 2009 Top 40 will date the film in a hurry.

[ClaudeParish]

I think I just threw up in my mind!

[scarletsherlock]

This film has never been advertised as a straight canonical adaptation. It's going to be based on a comic book. It's a popcorn action flick. As much as the idea of Holmes as an action hero might be distasteful, I am cautiously optimistic. Guy Ritchie has an iffy track record, but both Downey and Law are former Oscar nominees, and likeable, capable actors. From reading interviews, it's apparent that Law has done a lot of research into his role as Watson, and they are taking the Holmes/Watson relationship very seriously. If that's the only good thing that comes out of this film, I'll still be happy. I'm just excited that there is finally another project that is going to feature Watson actually marrying Mary Morstan. A lot of projects tend to skip over that entirely.

[Rachel Kadushin]

So what you're saying is that you hope most people will walk away from this film like it is the "cliff notes" to the literary Holmes and then go to the source. It could happen. The Harry Potter films are almost abbreviations of the longer novels..and people seem to get more out of the films if they've read the book's too... sort of like having *some* of their favorite scenes dramatized.

[Ruth]

I'm very apprehensive about Guy Ritchie's film -- it looks like a Victorian version of Fight Club. Which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, really, if not for the fact that the main character's name is Sherlock Holmes.

I've recently gotten my mother hooked on Jeremy Brett and the Granada series. I showed her a picture of Downey as Holmes without telling her who he was playing and asked her who she thought he was. Her reply: "That's Robert Downey, Jr. He really needs a hair cut." She was positively scandalized to hear that he's playing Holmes. I fear Brett has spoiled her forever for any other actor who assumes the role.

[Matt Letter]

LAS VEGAS - Leave it to Robert Downey Jr. to turn Sherlock Holmes into a wisecracking action hero who ends up handcuffed naked to a bed.

This is how MSNBC.com begins a March 31st writeup of the Richie movie. Heard enough?

Apparently ACD had it all wrong.