Sherlock Holmes
Short description
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson capture Lord Henry Blackwood, a nobleman linked to a string of ritual killings, and he is sentenced to death. He warns that his execution will not put a stop to the murders, and when deaths continue after he has been hanged, Holmes and Watson investigate and find someone else's body in his coffin. The case draws Holmes into a conspiracy that threatens the whole country, while the appearance of Irene Adler, a woman from his past, complicates matters. The story is set in late nineteenth-century London, where new technology and a fascination with the occult sit side by side.
Guy Ritchie directed the film, the sixth of nineteen he has directed in chronological order, following RocknRolla in 2008 and preceding Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows in 2011. Robert Downey Jr. plays Holmes, Jude Law plays Watson, Rachel McAdams plays Irene Adler, and Mark Strong plays Blackwood. Simon Kinberg, Anthony Peckham and Michael Robert Johnson wrote the screenplay.
Released in December 2009, the film had a budget of 90 million US dollars and took about 524 million US dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.5 out of 10 from around 704,000 votes, and on TMDB 7.2 out of 10 from roughly 15,000 votes. A critics' rating of 6.4 out of 10 from 250 reviews places it below both audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- The characters in the film discuss radio waves. The term "radio" was first used in 1907.
- The events of the film precede the meeting between Professor Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes, but Watson is already engaged, which somewhat contradicts the events described by Arthur Conan Doyle.
- The film is based on the works of Arthur Conan Doyle about Sherlock Holmes (published between 1887 and 1927), although the main plot is completely original.
- Robert participated in creating the detective's wardrobe and personally purchased a hat and pipe from the London store "Lock & Co."
- Among other charges on which Lord Blackwood is sentenced to death is "practicing black magic." After the Witchcraft Act of 1735, black magic was no longer considered a crime punishable by death in the UK. However, considering all other charges, Lord Blackwood would have gone to the scaffold anyway.
- Over 20 actors were considered for the role of Dr. Watson, including John Cusack, Gerard Butler, and Chris Pine.
- When the film was released in theaters, Professor Moriarty was voiced by Andrew Jack. This was before Jared Harris voiced the character in the sequel, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” (Guy Ritchie, 2011). It was after this that Harris re-voiced Moriarty in “Sherlock Holmes,” originally voiced by Jack, for DVD and Blu-ray releases and television broadcasts.
- In one shot we see the building of Big Ben and the Portcullis House standing next to it, which houses the offices of members of the British Parliament. Portcullis was built in 1993.
- It is claimed that Rachel McAdams (Irene), Jude Law (Dr. Watson), and Robert Downey Jr. (Holmes) performed all their own stunts, without the use of stunt doubles.
- Traffic in the film is right-hand traffic, not left-hand traffic as it should be in London.
- Rachel McAdams (who played Irene Adler) grew so tired of being tightly laced into a corset every morning before putting on her dress that she deliberately protruded her stomach or ate a hearty breakfast before filming, after which the costumers would begin lacing up the corset. The actress’s trick did not go unnoticed for long.
- In Reordan's laboratory, Sherlock Holmes mentions smelling "candy floss" (cotton candy). This treat was invented in 1894, but was not presented to the public until 1904.
- The film's main villain, Lord Blackwood, was partially based on the legendary occultist Aleister Crowley.
- Filming took place in the vicinity of London and Manchester, where many picturesque warehouses from the 19th century have been preserved. The interior of 221B Baker Street was assembled from props used to furnish Sirius Black's residence in the film "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
- Cinematographer Philippe Rousselot specifically used a special high-speed digital camera for filming some scenes. The key moment when Holmes, played by Robert Downey Jr., delivers a punch to the opponent’s jaw was filmed over one second in real time and then transformed into a long shot lasting seven seconds.
- During her escape from Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler slides down a pipe, which should leave her trousers dirty and wet, however, a few seconds later they are completely dry.
- At an early stage of production, it was planned that Colin Farrell would play the role of Dr. Watson, but the director later preferred Jude Law for the part.
- During the filming of a fight scene, Robert Maillet (a former wrestler) accidentally knocked out Robert Downey Jr.
- In the 94th minute, Watson spreads a map on the floor, and he and Adler place the same objects on it twice in a row to prevent it from curling. We first see this from above, then from the side.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
