Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris
Directed by Guy Ritchie

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his partner Watson (Jude Law) are back, this time they're up against Holmes' greatest foe, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), who plans on bringing about a world war by manipulating the worlds' governments.  With the help of gypsy Simza (Noomi Rapace), whose brother has joined Moriarty's cause, Holmes and Watson travel to Paris and Switzerland to stop Moriarty's evil plan.

Once again directed by Guy Ritchie, "A Game of Shadows" re-unites Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, and their chemistry is none the less powerful.  They play off each other in a brilliant way that transcends the film and really draws you into what is happening, while along the way bringing about the dry wit both are well known for.  The full introduction of Moriarty also adds to the Sherlock Holmes mythos, brilliantly performed by Jared Harris.  The addition of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" star Rapace rounds out a powerhouse four-person performance, filled with intrigue, action, and a very cerebral storyline, everything you would expect from a Holmes tale.  Ritchie's flair for the dramatic is highly visible in the dazzling slow-motion sequences.

Loosely taken from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work "The Final Problem," we're treated to the true game of wits between Holmes and Moriarty in a true epic showdown, where what you see might not be what is reality.  This is not a film to be seen casually, but to really understand and appreciate it, you have to see it with an open mind and complete concentration.  If you do, you'll find it to be a riveting game of cat-and-mouse, a power struggle between two genius minds.

My Rating: A-

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