Yesterday (NZT) at the Golden Globe Awards, American actor Robert Downey Jr took home the trophy for Best Actor - Musical or Comedy for his 'new take' on one of the most famous characters in English literature - the drug-taking, violin-playing, Baker Street-dwelling detective that popularised crime fiction more than a century ago.You can see some snippets of Downey Jr's performance as Sherlock Holmes in the trailer, available to view HERE.
I haven't yet got to see the whole movie (I'm intending to go next week), but have heard some mixed reviews from friends and acquaintances; though most were reasonably impressed with Downey Jr's acting performance. I am looking forward to it however.
What do you think of Downey Jr winning the Golden Globe? What did you think of Guy Ritchie's take on the classic detective? Are you a fan of Conan Doyle's tales? Thoughts and comments welcome.
Craig - I actually did see the film. As a Holmes fan, I was pleased at a few ways I noticed in which Ritchie (and Downey, Jr.) stayed true to the character that Doyle created. On the other hand, one reason I did pick those things up is that I went to the film with absolutely no expectations. I wasn't looking for the film to really bring the original Holmes "to life," so I wasn't as disappoipnted as I would have been if I had been looking for a really faithful depiction.
ReplyDeleteDowney was very good and he did display some of the things I love about Holmes - but all the boxing and blowing things up was very un-Sherlock like. Still that's more Ritchie's fault than Downey's - basically Ritchie managed to make the Holmes story into one of his usual geezer movies with a completely ridiculous storyline. But Law and Downey Jr were worth watching
ReplyDeleteI didn't think he was very good - like Margot it didn't bother me whether or not the story or character was as in the book. But I found Downey's acting hammy, and the film a tedious bore. (Jude Law acted well as Watson I think.)
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