Film Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

Certificate: 12A (intense sequences of violence and action, some drug material)
Directed By: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace, Rachel McAdams, Kelly Reilly, Stephen Fry
Budget: $125 million
Runtime: 129 minutes
Trailer: Watch

After the mega success of 2009's Sherlock Holmes it is hardly surprising that Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law should reprise their roles and rekindle their latent bromance. This time round Holmes (Downey Jr) must connect a spate of terrorist attacks which threaten to plunge Europe into war with the well respected Professor Moriarty (Harris) suspected of being behind it all.

The immediate distinction of A Game Of Shadows from the first film is its scope. It is a globe-trotting adventure which takes Holmes from London to Paris to Germany, only to end in Reichenbach Falls - a site familiar to those acquainted with Arthur Conan Doyle's novels. The problem with this however is that its grand ambition causes the plot to lose sight of itself in a way which sacrifices the deductive reasoning for which Holmes is famed. Where the first film was at least coherently intricate enough, here the pieces of the puzzle are clunkily positioned for Holmes to assemble. For all intents and purposes the first film was in many ways 'cleverer' where here everything feels strangely disjointed, which is a little disappointing given the precedence. Likewise the puzzle itself hardly seems befitting of the supreme intellect that Moriarty, "the Napoleon of crime", is said to command in Doyle's novels. Where the original Sherlock Holmes enjoyed playing intellectual tricks on its audience, this is an altogether more straightforward affair.

What director Guy Ritchie has done is try to bring James Bond into nineteenth-century Victorian Britain as action takes priority. A Game Of Shadows features more brawls with assassins and slow-motion action sequences which, while still looking cool, serve to dilute their purpose. Indeed, slow-motion is ostensibly used to illustrate Holmes' powers of perception which was used to great effect in the first outing, but here it is used too unsparingly to the point where it loses meaning. It is literally more, much more, of the same which manifests in a general feeling of lacklustre. The mechanics of sprightly spontaneity which made the original such a success are no longer fresh which consequently casts a shroud of inevitability over events. Indeed, one won't be nearly as enjoyably surprised as before.

A Game Of Shadows is a prime example of overemphasis on style which causes the plot to suffer and undermine the actors' sinew. Noomi Rapace for example is criminally underdeveloped, merely hanging around without adding anything to proceedings. Likewise, there is a tangible sense that Holmes and Watson (Law) are just itching to release their unbridled intellects but are just cut short by another relentless action sequence. While admittedly the first film was also foremost an action film, at least it left room for intellectual pondering. Here Ritchie has sought to blunt that notion which is disappointing ultimately because it is Holmes' cerebral abilities which we celebrate, not his brawn.

This might seem a little harsh on A Game Of Shadows as despite all of this it is still undeniably good fun. This is primarily down to two outstanding performances. Of course, Downey Jr's portrayal of Holmes is once again enjoyable in a manner similar to that of Depp's Jack Sparrow. Eccentric and flamboyant as always, he bears uncanny resemblance to his other anchor role of Tony Stark in Iron Man. However, it would be fair to say that Holmes is ultimately the more toothsome of the two to watch. While both are unmatched geniuses with unrestrained egos, Holmes displays more humanity than Stark which makes him easier to relate to. For all Holmes' brilliance, he is also a much more vividly damaged human being like the rest of us. It is also worth noting Stephen Fry's enjoyable little cameo as Holmes' brother, a high-up official in the British Foreign Office who is unusually nihilistic for one involved in the formalities of diplomacy and high-politics.

Perhaps more deserving of credit however is one Jared Harris who is outstanding in his portrayal of arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty. Harris is no stranger to the role of nutty professor, also having been delectable as evil genius David Robert Jones in TV series Fringe. The best bits of A Game Of Shadows inevitably occur when the two behemoth intellects of Holmes and Moriarty clash, but unfortunately this is not something which happens often enough. If anything Harris, probably the best thing about the film, suffers like many characters here and is disappointingly underused.

Still, despite the flaws this isn't wholly disappointing. It is confident and amusing and this serves well to mask many of its problems. The main problem with A Game Of Shadows though is that it tries to be both beauty and brains. It's incessant insistance on luxuriously choreographed action sequences form tears in the fabric of what Holmes is supposed to be about; his smarts. And as one might deduce, God doesn't give with both hands.

Broyles!

Best T-Shirt Ever No.5!

"Let's synthesise some LSD!"

New TV

Familiar shows returned to television following their winter breaks and most remained on form, some even stepping it up a notch. Notably, the third season of Fringe has just ended with a thrilling conclusion, enough to warrant some people calling it "Lost's natural successor". Certainly, it is probably the best show on television at the moment. Glee also returned in fine form and has surprisingly gone for a somewhat more serious and dramatic tone which makes it worth looking forward to for more reasons than its fantastic music. However, new series The Event appears to have somewhat stagnated in the same vain as FlashForward, pondering along at a snail's pace. It will be small wonder if it manages to secure a second season for itself. Likewise, House remains as formulaic as ever, and why I persist with watching it is beyond me. Unfortunately however, the Stargate franchise appears to have come to an end after spin-off series, Stargate: Universe, was abruptly cancelled at the end of its second season. While in terms of originality it offered nothing new, stealing much from Battlestar Galactica, its cancellation comes at a time just as it was starting to get interesting, which is a real shame. Fortunately, the writers managed to give it a fitting, and if not one of the most melancholy and satisfying endings to a television series to date. But overall, new television has been few and far between. However, there are two picks that I highly recommend watching...

Based on George R.R. Martin's best selling novel, 'A Song of Ice and Fire', HBO's Game of Thrones is the most interesting newcomer to TV. Whilst not ordinarily into the fantastical medieval mythos, Game of Thrones is actually a compelling tale of seven family's dynastic struggles for power over the Iron Throne. It is more a show of political intrigue which only happens to be set in a medieval fantasy world. What I appreciate more about it however is that despite it's mythical setting, it has done away with silliness such as dragons, orcs, elves and sorcery. Plus, it has Sean Bean.


Usually I would be hard pressed to recommend a crime thriller, but AMC's The Killing captured my attention nonetheless. For me at least, the pull of the show is all in its aesthetic, a dark and beautiful world reminding me of a cross between the videogames Alan Wake and Heavy Rain. The show's cinematography is the biggest allurer for me, but the plot isn't half bad either. A remake of a Danish television programme, Forbrydelsen, the series follows the efforts of Seattle Police's investigation into the mysterious events of young Rosie Larsen's death. It's a classic "whodunnit" caper entwined with the Larsen's tragic attempts to cope with their loss.

TV shows you should be watching.

Autumn - or 'Fall' as the Yanks like to call it - always brings with it a deluge of new television series. Here are a few of the best you should be watching...

An Idiot Abroad: Described by producer Ricky Gervais as "the most expensive practical joke ever", An Idiot Abroad is certainly no travel documentary, and nor will you learn anything from it. If you've ever listened to Ricky Gervais' podcasts you will be familiar with Karl Pilkington, a man with some peculiar and downright hilarious views on the world. Always the subject of Ricky's bullying, Gervais and partner in crime Steven Merchant thought it would be a good idea to send this 'Little Englander' out of his comfort zone to explore different cultures from around the world in an attempt to broaden his mind. This all makes for highly humorous and entertaining television.

Boardwalk Empire: Many of you will recognise Steve Buscemi from the Sopranos and various other movies as a supporting actor, so it is highly refreshing to see this vastly understated and supremely talented actor in the main role of yet another high quality production from HBO. Set in Atlantic City, New Jersey during America's prohibition era of the 1920s, Boardwalk Empire follows historical kingpin Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson, also charting as a side story the humble beginnings of Al Capone. Created by the genius behind the Sopranos, Terence Winter, Boardwalk fantastically captures the aesthetic and feel of the period, opening with a captivating pilot episode directed by Martin Scorsese and setting a precedence for continued excellence.

Dexter: Season 5 picks up after the deep and dramatic events of last season's Trinity killer as Dexter strives to rebuild his broken world. Under suspicion himself for Rita's death, Dexter finds himself juggling the trials of single parenthood, masking his own involvement in his wife's death and his renewed urge to deal out his unique style of justice on the dredges of Miami society. Not to mention that  not only is there a new ritualistic killer in town, but also a despicable group involved in abducting and abusing women.

The Event: Touted as Lost's natural successor, The Event is a new series which promises to create just as many "WTF" moments as the mysterious island did. A cross between political thriller and science fiction, the show revolves around three main characters; Sean Walker, whose girlfriend is kidnapped by a shady organization; President Elias Martinez, who upon his inauguration finds that the United States has kept captive beings of non-terrestrial origin at a secret base in Mount Inostranka; and leader of the detainees Sophia, who refuses to reveal their purpose on Earth. Described as the bastard love child of 24, the 4400 and Lost, The Event has been hyped to be the next big television series to hit our screens.

Fringe: Fringe's third - and most probably final - season picks up from the explosive ending of season two. As evil Dunham infiltrates our reality's Fringe Division, Walternate seeks to brainwash our Olivia for his own purposes and the coming war between the two realities. While it all sounds a little complex, if you've been following from the off this should indeed be the most intriguing season of the lot as all the strange events come to a crescendo.

Glee: The Gleeks are back for a new season offering their own take on popular music, both new and old. Season two has already started with a bang by introducing two new characters, Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet), sporting lips Mick Jagger would be proud of, and Sunshine Corazon (Charice Pempengco), whose voice will literally blow you away. Perhaps taking a different direction however, this season seems more concerned with exploring "issues", which somewhat takes away from its otherwise cheery exterior. Nonetheless, the music is still fantastic and Glee remains good fun.

House M.D.: Season 7 promises to take misanthropic doctor Gregory House in a new direction now that he has found love with boss Lisa Cuddy. While so far the initial episodes, except the first, have started off relatively light-hearted, the same mischievous pranks of House are present, as are the politically incorrect quips and philosophical musings which have made the show great. Thirteen has now gone, leaving Taub, Foreman and Chase as House's diagnostic team. While House remains as formulaic as ever (no, it's still not Lupus), it nonetheless remains faithfully absorbing.

The Inbetweeners: Nowadays good British comedies appear few and far between as we are subjected to the utter bollocks of 'Little Britain' and 'Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps'. But perhaps the funniest British comedy since the one gem that has stood out in recent years, Peep Show, is The Inbetweeners, featuring the exploits of four sixth form pupils who are not exactly cool, but don't fall into that 'loser' category either. The first two seasons were absolutely fantastic, featuring iconic moments such as "bus wankers" and "ohhh, fwweeend". Unfortunately, season three relies more on gross-out comedy and has lost a little of the edge present in the first two seasons. Apparently the plan is to end the boy's saga with a feature length film set around a lad's holiday abroad. Let's just hope it isn't as shit as 'Kevin and Perry Go Large'.

Rubicon: Rubicon is perhaps one of the cleverest shows to grace our TV screens in a long time. Will Travers is a brilliant intelligence analyst working for the American Policy Institute. Upon the death of his father in law, Will discovers that it is linked to a sinister secret society which manipulates world events on a grand scale to their own benefit. As Will uses the resources afforded to him by his job in the intelligence agency to uncover more evidence, he soon begins to unravel a major conspiracy involving the very people he works for. Rubicon is a highly intelligent and original piece of television which rewards the effort you put into it. Compelling stuff.

Sons of Anarchy: Another fantastically original piece of television, Sons of Anarchy follows the exploits of a biker gang in the small town of Charming, USA. Last season's cliffhanger saw main character Jax's child stolen by the Real IRA and his mother Gemma framed for murder by nefarious ATF Agent Stahl. Season three opens explosively with the death of a major character, Gemma on the lamb, and Jax in search of his infant son. Sons promises to expand the action cross continents to Northern Ireland as the series remains as exciting as ever.

South Park: Back from its mid-season break, the fourteenth season renews its devastating satire of human behaviour by targeting popular social norms such as NASCAR, Jersey Shore and Inception. South Park continues to get funnier and more outrageous with every episode as the perceptive wit of creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker remains as sharp as ever.

Stargate: Universe: In the second spin-off of television's longest running sci-fi series, Stargate SG1, Stargate: Universe takes an altogether different tone from both SG1 and Atlantis. Taking many ideas from the Battlestar Galactica reboot, Universe sees a group of stranded humans aboard the 'Ancient' vessel 'Destiny', a seed ship designed to plop stargates across the universe. While unoriginal in its concept - the mood, lighting, camera angles and music all steal from Battlestar - Universe is perhaps one of those things that only the super hardcore fans of the original Stargate series will appreciate.

'V': V is an acquired taste to be fair. It is incredibly clichéd and the parallels it tries to draw with real world events are not particularly subtle. It is also a cheese fest. Having said that, the remake of the 1980s cult-classic is a more than passable sci-fi romp. The premise is that a bunch of aliens known as "The Visitors", or "V's" for short, have arrived on Earth posing as humanity's Messiahs through offering technology to help ease the World's problems. However, their motives are far more sinister and quite literally, they are not as they appear. When a few humans learn of their true intentions they form a resistance group to oppose them, but face public backlash due to the V's mainstream popularity. Set to kickstart again in November, V should become much more interesting in season two as they somewhat revealed their real selves to the world at the end of last season.

Alternate Reality Beatles: John Lennon Never Died.

Last night a couple of buddies and I frequented our local shisha haunt. We usually talk about meaningless fluff; football, music, films, last night's events, women (sorry girls)...but for some reason topics last night took an altogether different tone; the downright bizarre. So there we were, discussing 'science'. I know this sounds ambiguous, but even I couldn't tell you exactly what on Earth we were talking about (although Earth was discussed). All of a sudden my friend pipes up; "What do you guys think of alternate realities?". Fair question. We shrugged. I told him how much I liked the TV show 'Fringe', and my other mate, a physics graduate, pondered the theory of their being an infinite amount of dimensions and whether alternate realities are self-propagating within each 'alternate universe'. Kinda like those Russian babushka dolls. So my friend patiently listens for us to finish before saying; "Here's a funny story. My friend linked me to this website about a man who claims to have 'fell down the rabbit hole' into one of these alternate realities where the Beatles were still touring". I responded "link me to that shit".

Well, he didn't, so I had to Google it myself. Sure enough, I found the website in question. The address is thebeatlesneverbrokeup.com and the dude that wrote it makes some pretty outlandish claims. Anyhow, the gist of the story is that this man was out driving in the desert one day and got out to pee. Somehow, he managed to tumble over and hit his head, rendering him unconscious. He awoke, apparently, to find that he had been taken in to a man's house whom, through commercially available alternate dimension technology, saw that the man on 'our side' was injured and crossed over to help. They chatted about music, and he found out that the Beatles were actually alive and well; John Lennon hadn't been assassinated in this reality and was still touring with the band. So they listened to Beatles albums which were never released and this dude's saviour fed him purple ketchup. I shit you not. When it was time to leave he asked if he could take one of the Beatles' cassettes with him, to prove that he'd crossed over (apparently CDs hadn't taken off in this universe) but the man forbade him for some reason. Cut a long story short, this guy managed to nab one of the tapes and take it back with him. He then uploaded it on his website with his story.

So all of today I've been listening to the Beatles from an alternate reality, and actually they're pretty good. If you too wish to hear what the Beatles might have sounded like in the future go to the link above and you can find the download link on the left. But our random philosophical conversation over shisha was pretty surreal. I was half expecting the creepy voice from the 'Outer Limits' to chime in with the obligatorily vague yet frightening analysis. "Perhaps the descent into madness...is not a solitary journey...after all...".