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Sherlock ditches his deerstalker | Sherlock ditches his deerstalker |
(about 9 hours later) | |
By Michael Osborn Entertainment reporter, BBC News Watson (Jude Law) and Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) are not afraid to get their hands dirty in this latest outing | By Michael Osborn Entertainment reporter, BBC News Watson (Jude Law) and Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) are not afraid to get their hands dirty in this latest outing |
Legendary detective Sherlock Holmes is best remembered for solving mysteries in the London fog, clad in a flowing cape, deerstalker hat and puffing on his pipe. | Legendary detective Sherlock Holmes is best remembered for solving mysteries in the London fog, clad in a flowing cape, deerstalker hat and puffing on his pipe. |
Holmes, portrayed on screen for almost a century, has been spruced up for a lavish new outing starring Robert Downey Jr as the quintessential Englishman. | Holmes, portrayed on screen for almost a century, has been spruced up for a lavish new outing starring Robert Downey Jr as the quintessential Englishman. |
Gone is the deerstalker in director Guy Ritchie's film, as Holmes takes to the streets to save 1890s London from a dark foe. | Gone is the deerstalker in director Guy Ritchie's film, as Holmes takes to the streets to save 1890s London from a dark foe. |
Holmes uses his fists as much as his razor sharp mind in a string of high-octane action sequences, and is "flawed, selfish and suffers from depression," according to Ritchie. | Holmes uses his fists as much as his razor sharp mind in a string of high-octane action sequences, and is "flawed, selfish and suffers from depression," according to Ritchie. |
'Hotson' | 'Hotson' |
He says he wanted to create a Holmes not "contaminated with previous symbols", but insists there is a strong association with Conan Doyle's original work. | He says he wanted to create a Holmes not "contaminated with previous symbols", but insists there is a strong association with Conan Doyle's original work. |
We're just a good team Robert Downey Jr on working with Jude Law | We're just a good team Robert Downey Jr on working with Jude Law |
"There were the first stories I was familiar with from about the age of six and I knew them extremely well. | "There were the first stories I was familiar with from about the age of six and I knew them extremely well. |
"From a very young age I had an image of Sherlock Holmes and feel I drew most of my creative ammunition from Doyle," adds the film-maker. | "From a very young age I had an image of Sherlock Holmes and feel I drew most of my creative ammunition from Doyle," adds the film-maker. |
Downey Jr, who brings a bohemian, slightly bedraggled feel to Holmes, says he knew it would be a fresh interpretation drawing on original sources. | Downey Jr, who brings a bohemian, slightly bedraggled feel to Holmes, says he knew it would be a fresh interpretation drawing on original sources. |
"Sometimes you just feel you're in the right groove and being silently approved from some other place and time," he explains. | "Sometimes you just feel you're in the right groove and being silently approved from some other place and time," he explains. |
"There were times when we were so locked into how Doyle expressed things, but we had to twist it up. | "There were times when we were so locked into how Doyle expressed things, but we had to twist it up. |
"We were honouring it but still being entertaining," says the Hollywood star. | "We were honouring it but still being entertaining," says the Hollywood star. |
Actor Jude Law, whose handsome, debonair version of the traditionally bumbling Dr Watson has turned him into "Hotson", says the film was about rediscovering the 19th-Century stories. | Actor Jude Law, whose handsome, debonair version of the traditionally bumbling Dr Watson has turned him into "Hotson", says the film was about rediscovering the 19th-Century stories. |
"They were coming to me not to put on two stone and fool around putting my foot in the wastepaper basket. I was going to play Watson with a bit more edge. | "They were coming to me not to put on two stone and fool around putting my foot in the wastepaper basket. I was going to play Watson with a bit more edge. |
SELECTION OF SCREEN SHERLOCKS Basil Rathbone (pictured) - starred in 14 British films between 1939-46Peter Cushing - the horror actor most recently played Holmes in 1984Peter O'Toole - voiced Holmes in four 1980s cartoonsJeremy Brett - played Holmes in a UK TV series for a decadeVasilli Livanov - star of a series of nine films for Soviet TV | SELECTION OF SCREEN SHERLOCKS Basil Rathbone (pictured) - starred in 14 British films between 1939-46Peter Cushing - the horror actor most recently played Holmes in 1984Peter O'Toole - voiced Holmes in four 1980s cartoonsJeremy Brett - played Holmes in a UK TV series for a decadeVasilli Livanov - star of a series of nine films for Soviet TV |
"It was a happy juggle between going back to Doyle, relishing in the accuracy that had been overlooked before and adding new energy to it," explains the star. | "It was a happy juggle between going back to Doyle, relishing in the accuracy that had been overlooked before and adding new energy to it," explains the star. |
"You see them unpicking cases on a cerebral level, but they're also out and about getting their boots dirty and knuckles sore." | "You see them unpicking cases on a cerebral level, but they're also out and about getting their boots dirty and knuckles sore." |
Ironically, Law's second acting job in 1991 was playing a stable boy with a secret in a Sherlock Holmes TV mystery. | Ironically, Law's second acting job in 1991 was playing a stable boy with a secret in a Sherlock Holmes TV mystery. |
Lionel Wigram, who wrote the screen story for Sherlock Holmes, adds that authenticity was "essential". | |
"In every scene we tried to have at least one piece of Doyle's dialogue and harvested his stories for as much rich detail as we could put in there. | "In every scene we tried to have at least one piece of Doyle's dialogue and harvested his stories for as much rich detail as we could put in there. |
"There is a reason Sherlock Holmes has lasted 122 years - because the stories are so good and he created such amazing characters." | "There is a reason Sherlock Holmes has lasted 122 years - because the stories are so good and he created such amazing characters." |
Producer Joel Silver, whose previous credits include the Matrix and Lethal Weapon films, says that the original Holmes movies were "stuffy". | Producer Joel Silver, whose previous credits include the Matrix and Lethal Weapon films, says that the original Holmes movies were "stuffy". |
'Franchise capabilities' | 'Franchise capabilities' |
"They were rug and dust movies, interior films. We've made a contemporary film which feels fresh and original but still embraces what Doyle did. | "They were rug and dust movies, interior films. We've made a contemporary film which feels fresh and original but still embraces what Doyle did. |
"It potentially has franchise capabilities," he says. "You want to have a place to go with a movie, and we tried to allow the audience to embrace the fact there may be more of a story." | "It potentially has franchise capabilities," he says. "You want to have a place to go with a movie, and we tried to allow the audience to embrace the fact there may be more of a story." |
While arch-villain Lord Blackwood is a new creation, there is a shadowy appearance by Holmes's nemesis Moriarty, suggesting he is being primed for a possible sequel. | While arch-villain Lord Blackwood is a new creation, there is a shadowy appearance by Holmes's nemesis Moriarty, suggesting he is being primed for a possible sequel. |
Irene Adler first appeared in a 1891 Doyle story | Irene Adler first appeared in a 1891 Doyle story |
The actor who might play the evil professor, however, remains a closely-guarded secret. | The actor who might play the evil professor, however, remains a closely-guarded secret. |
While the film boasts a rich soundtrack and a vivid recreation of Victorian London, at its heart is the relationship between Holmes and Watson. | While the film boasts a rich soundtrack and a vivid recreation of Victorian London, at its heart is the relationship between Holmes and Watson. |
Ritchie says he wanted more of a "partnership of equals" than the tradition of Watson's dullness bringing Holmes's brilliance into sharp focus. | Ritchie says he wanted more of a "partnership of equals" than the tradition of Watson's dullness bringing Holmes's brilliance into sharp focus. |
As for Downey Jr and Law, they say it is an acting union that has proved a success. | As for Downey Jr and Law, they say it is an acting union that has proved a success. |
"We started work the minute we met," says Law. | "We started work the minute we met," says Law. |
"Usually they say 'you and a female actress have got this great chemistry' but they're talking about Jude and me like we should be making romantic comedies!" jokes Downey Jr. | "Usually they say 'you and a female actress have got this great chemistry' but they're talking about Jude and me like we should be making romantic comedies!" jokes Downey Jr. |
"This film is not a comedy but it's a love affair of sorts. Holmes and Watson are aspects of all of us. We're just a good team," he adds. | "This film is not a comedy but it's a love affair of sorts. Holmes and Watson are aspects of all of us. We're just a good team," he adds. |
Sherlock Holmes is released in the US on 25 December and comes out in the UK on 26 December. | Sherlock Holmes is released in the US on 25 December and comes out in the UK on 26 December. |
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