Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Dr. Mikel Vause of Weber State University fame is such a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters and story, that he teaches an Emminent Authors class annually on the subject. I was delighted to take part in this online class a couple of years ago when pregnancy made campus attendance an impossibility. This collection of stories is so different from what I usually pick up on my own, that reading and analyzing them helped open up another facet of a beautiful literary diamond. We spent a semester likening Doyle's themes to that of modern cinematography. There was never a dull moment.

With this introduction, I was extatic to find that one of my favorite actors (Robert Downey, Jr.)had been chosen to play Holmes alongside another compelling choice (Jude Law). This action packed thriller included snippets of Doyle's stories woven together - the ginger haired dwarf, the pocket watch that had been often pawned, Watson's engagement, Holmes' experimental drug use - along with details that were unfamiliar, and yet, perfectly fitting. I promise I applauded the moment Watson punched Holmes square in the jaw or when they bickered like the brothers they had become.

A purist may be disappointed in the film. For example, Downey did not actually play the violin once. He held it and plucked it occasionally. My assumption is that with all of his other movie making obligations he didn't have time to learn. This is the one detail that I hope is corrected before another film is made. I learned a long time ago that books and film are distinctly different - each with their own limitations. Watch with that in mind, and, even the keenest of Doyle's fans will not be disappointed.