Links of Interest
'Sherlock Holmes' won an Art Directors Guild Award for 'Excellence in Production Design for a Feature Film', much congrats' to Sarah Greenwood and fingers crossed for the Oscars.
The Mirror's revealed that David Mitchell and Robin Webb are going to spoof Holmes & Watson in their new series, it features them as OAPs! Look out for the new series in the Spring.
Bartitsu.org have an interview with Richard Ryan, fight director for the film.
Here's the trailer for Aslyum's 'Sherlock Holmes' film. It looks awesomely bad! I've been sent a copy of the film and I will be watching it when I get a moment, don't worry I'll post a review! Their website has some production stills up.
Volunteers in Portsmouth have finally finish cataloging the many thousands of items from the collection donated to them by Richard Lancelyn Green and it's due to go on public display in Central Library.
There's been a boom in watch fob sales since the film!
David Stuart Davies's productions 'Sherlock Holmes - The Last Act' and 'Sherlock Holmes - Death and Life' performed excellently by Roger Llewellyn are now avialable to buy on Big Finish's website. Pre-orders are open for 'Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper' staring Nicholas Briggs as Holmes.
Finally, the New York Times talks about the copyright issues still surrounding Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes is Oscar Nominated
Well, not for anything massive like Best Picture but it's been nominated for Original Score and Art Direction, and I think it's very likely to come away with the Original Score award.
Art in the Blood
One of the spectacularly brilliant things about the new film were the credits, no not just because the film was over but because they were very, very well done. A website called 'The Art of the Title' talks to the man responsible for the credits and takes a look at some of the alternative takes. It's a highly recommend link.
John *Heron* Watson, supplemental
As with all things Holmesian, there are more resources out there talking about Sir Patrick Heron Watson being the source for both Watson's middle name and surname.
An article in the Baker Street Journal titled 'Some Observations upon the Segregation of the Bea (sic)' (PDF) by S. E. Dahlinger reveals that in 1949 Jay Finley Christ wrote an article called “John H. Watson Never Went to China” which challenged John Dickson Carr's belief that John Watson was based on ACDs friend James Watson, as ACD hadn't met him until after he wrote STUD. The case was then followed up in the 1980s by Jon L. Lellenberg and W. O. G. Lofts who published “John H(eron) Watson, M.D.” in vol. 30, No.2 of the Baker Street Journal (pages 83 - 85 if you want to look it up).
John *Heron* Watson?
At the Royal Society of Medicine there is small collection of items from the Royal College of Surgeons's exhibition on 'The Real Sherlock Holmes'. It's a fascinating collection and it's great to read more about ACD as a medical student and take a look at the people who inspired him. I don't know how long the collection is staying at the RSM, but for now it's there for taking a look. An interesting thing I discovered whilst there was that the president of RCS from 1878 called Sir Patrick Heron Watson (1832 - 1907); his surgical career carries a certain resemblance to Watson's.
I tried finding an online resource, and all I could really find was this article (PDF) titled 'An Edinburgh surgeon of the Crimean war--Patrick Heron Watson (1832-1907)' by WB Watson, published in the Medical History journal v.10 (2) in April 1966.
Basically, after his training and whatnot, Sir Patrick Heron Watson decided to become an army surgeon and headed out to help in the Crimean War. Initially he was posted to Koolalee Hospital in Turkey, where he caught typhus and after a short convalescence was posted to the Crimea with the Royal Artillery - where unfortunately he contracted dysentery. He was put back on a boat going to Scutari (ships doctor said he wouldn't last the night) and spent the next four weeks in the hospital there, where he became ill with mercury poisoning before finally being sent back to England and spent further recovery in a hotel in London.
Given that ACD used so much from his own experiences and life as influence for Holmes, it wouldn't surprise me if Sir Patrick Heron Watson's early army career was inspiration for John Watson's career and that the 'H' is for Heron.
Links of Interest
The Guardian have weighed in with a very nice article with their thoughts on the whole Andrea Plunket thing - one of the cool things about it is that it links to a series of essays written by nekosmuse taking a look at the subtext within the original canon.
I was around when nekosmuse was starting out with her essays and it's great to see them still being discussed! Not only that but if you follow the comments you will see that nekosmuse and Rohase Piercy(writer of 'My Dearest Holmes') both comment on the article.
Updated regarding Holmes sequel
Thankfully it turns out Andrea Plunket has no claims whatsoever to Sherlock Holmes.
She was married to a guy called Sheldon Reynolds who produced the 1950s Holmes series staring Ronald Howard, he controlled the copyright in the 50s but no longer has a claim to the rights. The American copyright is owned by the estate of Dame Jean Conan Doyle and administered in the US by Jon Lellenberg. Her claims to the rights have been thrown out of court and her petition to trademark 'Sherlock Holmes' has been turned down.
So there we go, she can shout and scream all she wants but can't control the rights.
Holmes sequel under threat from Doyle Estate
One of the trickiest subjects to talk about amongst the Holmesian community is homosexuality, particularly if it relates to either Sherlock Holmes or Dr Watson. People can be openly hostile regarding the mere suggestion of anything other than heterosexuals appear within the canon, I suspect this is largely due to the age of many Holmesians - they tend to be older and male. This, however, is taking the issue a step too far - I don't care if you have been granted right to be executors of Doyle's estate, you should not use that power as a platform for your own belief... and I think this is the case.
The executors of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's literary estate have threatened to withdraw Guy Ritchie's rights to the Sherlock Holmes story if the director hints at a homosexual relationship between the lead characters in his sequel.
Robert Downey, Jr., who plays the supersleuth in Ritchie's new movie adaption, recently appeared on David Letterman's U.S. talk show and hinted at a homoerotic subtext in the relationship between his character and Jude Law's Dr. Watson. During the interview the actor also asked the audience to decide whether Holmes is "a very butch homosexual."
But Downey, Jr.'s comments have infuriated Andrea Plunket, who controls the remaining U.S. copyrights to the Holmes story, and she's threatened to withdraw permission for a follow-up if Ritchie suggests the detective is more than just friends with his sidekick. She says, "I hope this is just an example of Mr Downey's black sense of humour. It would be drastic, but I would withdraw permission for more films to be made if they feel that is a theme they wish to bring out in the future. I am not hostile to homosexuals, but I am to anyone who is not true to the spirit of the books."
Review: ‘Sherlock Holmes’ (2009)
WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
As with the Basil Rathbone era of Holmes films it's important to look at the characters within the universe that has been presented to us. Therefore we must accept that within the universe Guy Ritchie has created, Sherlock Holmes is indeed a bare-knuckled 19th century James Bond with a dash of Minority Report-esque precognition. The polite nod to Rathbone early in the film must have been meant for those of us in the audience watching as Holmesians; I'm not really going to review this film as a Holmesian because I can't – as a Holmesian I'd seen it all before, mostly in 'A Case of Evil' and (spoiler hidden) [it ended the same way (but without the clock-tower).].
So, not reviewing as a Holmesian but as someone who spends far too much time sitting in my local cinema.
'Sherlock Holmes' is a perfectly adequate film, with highly enjoyable moments and amazing set pieces. The acting is mostly fine, with a stand out performance from Eddie Marsan as the put-upon Inspector Lestrade and a valiant attempt by Mark Strong to make a one-dimensional character a little more rounded. Special mention must go to Gladstone, who was utterly adorable.
The plot is contrived, clichéd, ridiculous and over-long but the interaction between Robert Downy Jr's Holmes and Jude Law's Watson stop the air from completely leaving the balloon. Rachel McAdams provides more questions than answers, such as what was the point of Irene Adler other than to provide Holmes with someone to rescue? She was established as someone who has bettered Holmes on more than one occasion but took a u-turn somewhere along the way and became the damsel in distress... a role that I think could have been played by Kelly Reilly as Mary Morstan, perhaps giving Jude Law the opportunity to play any other emotion besides exasperation and Kelly Reilly something to do other than simply act as a wedge.
The existence of Moriarty, and Irene's connection to him, seemed very much a set piece for future films which looked tacked on in order to set up the stage for the next film. It's a pity that Mark Strong (who should have been Holmes) won't be returning as he would no doubt prove to be a very charismatic, devious and brilliant Moriarty, as Lord Blackwood he was underused and not given the material to really create the menacing fear he was supposed to inspire.
The interplay between Holmes and Watson provide the real draw and substance to this film, I could have quiet happily sat through an entire film dedicated to their interaction and it's a pity they didn't do that. Robert Downy Jr's Holmes is fine, with all his eccentricities, mannerisms, and arrogance he gives us an interestingly flawed character – people have argued that physically he's no Holmes and I would agree, if this was the Holmes of Conan Doyle's Victorian London rather than Guy Ritchie's Victorian London. Jude Law is an perfectly fine Watson, his acting is one-dimensional and his limp periodically disappears but I can take him as the ex-soldier he is. The chemistry between the pair feels somewhat forced at times but they work well together, acting like the old married couple that they are.
The film could (and should) have been better plotted, but there is no denying that the production looks good, the set pieces are spectacular (I'd quite happily watch the moment that ship slid into the water over and over again) and there were enough little Holmesy moments to satisfy. By no means a great film, but a perfectly okay one and in a universe that I wouldn't mind paying future visits to... if the plot improves.
Reviews Round Up
At the moment the reviews have been mix (Mark Kermode liked it, making it one of the only Guy Ritchie films he's liked), the film has 68% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Positive:
Daily Telegraph: "The pace rarely slackens throughout, the set pieces are explosive, the score relentlessly thunderous. Victorian London is recreated – relying on copious use of computer effects – with an eye for the grimy reality."
The Times: "Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes is a riot. The director takes on a British institution with a swagger and a wink and the result is boisterous and unabashed fun."
Daily Express: "A handsome, entertaining romp of a film that they really should have called Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Pipes."
Time Out: "Ritchie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ is effective as a caricatured comedy adventure and shows some fidelity to Arthur Conan Doyle, especially in Downey Jr’s portrayal of the eccentric but cold-hearted Holmes."
New Yorker: "Downey and Law are terrific together. For me, watching them act is the movie’s principal pleasure."
Daily Mirror: "The movie is alive with cinematic magic, played out in an expertly-recreated capital full of grime, grubbiness and occasional grandeur."
Variety: "If you can get over the idea of Sherlock Holmes as an action hero -- and if, indeed, you want to -- then there is something to enjoy about this flagrant makeover of fiction's first modern detective into a man of brawn as much as brain."
Not Positive:
Independent: "Ritchie is all at sea because he has no grasp of language as something comic, a problem intensified by the thin overlay of "period".
Guardian: "It's a hollow attempt at modernisation, and quickly grows dull. Watson's big dilemma – whether to quit his life with Holmes for marriage to lovely Mary has, at heart, all the depth of a Wham! song."
Daily Mail: "The plot is frequently incomprehensible, and Rachel McAdams’s poorly photographed femme fatale could be edited out of the picture without making much difference. Most of the time, I hadn’t a clue what she was doing, and she didn’t seem to either."
Time Out (New York): "Into Sherlock Holmes’ digitized 1891 London steps Downey, who peps up his performance with so much attitude that you wish the whole schlocky movie spinning around him would just calm down and take notice."
Hollywood Reporter: "The plot? Wish you hadn't asked."
Financial Times: "The script here is a pretext for fatuous action pyrotechnics, misfiring comedy, the inevitable star from Central Crumpet Casting and CG jiggery-pokery evoking Ye Olde London. In short: Doc, Sh’lock and Every Scraped Barrel."
Quote of the Moment
Upcoming Events
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
Further Information
Pastchie/Other Media
Places of Interest
- 221b Baker Street
- 221b.ru (Russian Holmesian Site)
- Baker Street Blog
- Hounds of the Internet
- Sherlock Holmes Society of London
- Sherlockian Who's Who
- Sherlockian.net
- Sherlockian.net
- The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes
Scholarship
- Baker Street Journal
- Decoding the Subtext: Examining the Homoerotic Subtext within the Canon
- Holmesian Essays
- Learned Papers: Holmesian Articles
Socities
- Baker Street Journal
- Sherlock Holmes Society of London
- Société Sherlock Holmes de France
- The Bootmakers of Toronto
- The Sydney Passengers
Twitter
- celestialteapot: Had a weird dream that was a sort cross between a bad horror movie and ghostbusters, but with more paperwork :s
- celestialteapot: Lesbian werewolves? Sign me up!
Tags
Categories
Recent Comments
- Marius on Review: ‘Sherlock Holmes’ (2009)
- admin on Links of Interest
- nekosmuse on Links of Interest
- Lyrical Soul on Holmes sequel under threat from Doyle Estate
- Christina on Review: ‘Sherlock Holmes’ (2009)
Recent Posts
- Links of Interest
- Sherlock Holmes is Oscar Nominated
- Art in the Blood
- John *Heron* Watson, supplemental
- John *Heron* Watson?
Archives
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Feb | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
