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Catholic movie review - Sherlock Holmes |
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By John Mulderig - Catholic News Service
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Thursday, 24 December 2009 |
The game's afoot once more in "Sherlock Holmes" (Warner Bros.). But, though vigorous, this latest addition to the chronicles of perhaps the world's most iconic sleuth -- who first figured in a series of novels and short stories published between 1887 and 1927 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -- is also frequently violent.
Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. star in a scene from the movie "Sherlock Holmes." - CNS photo/Warner Bros.
In fact, as envisioned by director Guy Ritchie, and slyly personified by Robert Downey Jr., this brawny Sherlock slugs his way through several bone-crunching square-offs across Victorian London on the way to solving his latest case.
Accompanied by his perennial sidekick, Dr. Watson (Jude Law), Holmes is
on the trail of notorious Satan-worshipping aristocrat Lord Blackwood
(Mark Strong). But the investigation would seem to have reached a
satisfactory conclusion within minutes of the opening credits when --
after the pair interrupt Blackwood as he's about to perform his latest
ritual murder -- the errant peer is safely incarcerated and duly
sentenced to be hanged.
Inviting Holmes to visit him in jail on the eve of his execution,
however, Blackwood predicts that he will rise from the dead, inspiring
a wave of public panic that will have global political implications.
And it soon appears as though Blackwood has made good on his threat
when a graveyard watchman swears he saw the seemingly resurrected
nobleman walk out of his tomb.
Though the mystery of Blackwood's return is eventually teased out in
typical Holmesian fashion, the initial idea of a black-magic
resurrection may not sit well with some adult viewers and -- taken
together with its purely rationalistic solution -- might be confusing
for some more youthful ones.
But Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg's
collaborative script certainly makes no attempt to compromise Christian
claims. And the logical deconstruction of Blackwood's scheme can be
read as showing the inability of the powers of darkness -- or of those
trying to draw on them -- to imitate God's supreme miracle.
Intriguingly, too, the dialogue includes a warning from the usually
skeptical Holmes that Blackwood had better hope there's nothing to
Satanism, as the dilettante, the detective observes, has performed its
various ceremonies flawlessly.
A further complication for Catholic audiences concerns Blackwood's
membership in a Masonic-style secret society dedicated to cultivating
occult powers. Some of the members of this conventicle who oppose
Blackwood argue that, unlike their misguided associate, they use such
dark gifts to achieve good ends -- an assertion, needless to say,
wholly contrary to church teaching.
Heightening the tension of the central chase are subplots involving
Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly), the young lady for whom Watson has fallen
and for whose sake he plans to abandon his work with Holmes and break
up their bachelor household -- a goal Holmes does his wily best to
sabotage -- and femme fatale Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), an adept
criminal who plays both sides of the law and who has bested and
befuddled Holmes in the past.
Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.
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A scene in which Holmes visits Adler only to end up handcuffed to a
headboard naked, with only a pillow for strategic cover -- and his
subsequent, easily misinterpreted request to a chambermaid to free him
-- is another clue suggesting a mature classification for this
generally entertaining, but hard-bitten take on the legend of Baker
Street's most famous mythical resident.
The film contains considerable action violence, occult themes, satanic
activity, brief irreverence, a sexual situation and a few sexual
references and jokes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of
America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material
may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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