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===Critical response===
===Critical response===
The film received generally positive reviews from film critics. Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that 61% of 200 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 6.1 out of 10. The consensus is "''Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'' is a good yarn thanks to its well-matched leading men but overall stumbles duplicating the well-oiled thrills of the original".<ref name="Reviews">{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sherlock_holmes_a_game_of_shadows/ |title=Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, gives the film a score of 48 based on 38 reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows|title=Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic |work=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=16 December 2011}}</ref>
The film received mixed or average reviews from film critics. Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that 61% of 200 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 6.1 out of 10. The consensus is "''Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'' is a good yarn thanks to its well-matched leading men but overall stumbles duplicating the well-oiled thrills of the original".<ref name="Reviews">{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sherlock_holmes_a_game_of_shadows/ |title=Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, gives the film a score of 48 based on 38 reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows|title=Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic |work=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=16 December 2011}}</ref>


[[Roger Ebert]], who gave the first film three stars, was even more positive in his review for ''A Game of Shadows'', awarding it three-and-a-half stars and calling it "high-caliber entertainment" that "add[s] a degree of refinement and invention" to the formula, and that the "writers ... wisely devote some of their best scenes to one-on-ones between Holmes and Moriarty."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111214/REVIEWS/111219992/-1/RSS |title=Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=rogerebert.com }}</ref>
[[Roger Ebert]], who gave the first film three stars, was even more positive in his review for ''A Game of Shadows'', awarding it three-and-a-half stars and calling it "high-caliber entertainment" that "add[s] a degree of refinement and invention" to the formula, and that the "writers ... wisely devote some of their best scenes to one-on-ones between Holmes and Moriarty."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111214/REVIEWS/111219992/-1/RSS |title=Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=rogerebert.com }}</ref>

Revision as of 04:07, 13 July 2012

Sherlock Holmes:
A Game of Shadows
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGuy Ritchie
Written byKieran Mulroney
Michele Mulroney
Produced byJoel Silver
Lionel Wigram
Susan Downey
Dan Lin
StarringRobert Downey, Jr.
Jude Law
Noomi Rapace
Jared Harris
Stephen Fry
Kelly Reilly
Rachel McAdams
CinematographyPhilippe Rousselot
Edited byJames Herbert
Music byHans Zimmer
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • 16 December 2011 (2011-12-16)
Running time
129 minutes[1]
CountriesUnited Kingdom
United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$125 million[2]
Box office$543,848,418[3]

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a 2011 British-American action mystery film directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin. It is a sequel to the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, based on the titular character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The screenplay is written by Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney. Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law reprise their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson and are joined by Noomi Rapace as Simza and Jared Harris as Professor Moriarty.

Holmes and Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their most cunning adversary, Professor James Moriarty. Although influenced by Conan Doyle's short story "The Final Problem", the film follows an original story and is not a strict adaptation.[4]

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows received generally favourable reviews from critics[5] and was commercially successful with a worldwide gross of over $543 million.[3]

Plot

In 1891, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) delivers a package to Dr Hoffmanstahl—payment for a letter he was to deliver. Hoffmanstahl opens the package, triggering a hidden bomb that is prevented from detonating by the intervention of Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.). Holmes takes the letter and disposes of the bomb while Adler and Hoffmanstahl escape. Holmes later finds Hoffmanstahl assassinated. Adler meets with Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) to explain the events, but Moriarty poisons her—deeming her position compromised by her love for Holmes.

Some time later, Dr Watson (Jude Law) arrives at 221B Baker Street, where Holmes discloses that he is investigating a series of seemingly unrelated murders, terrorist attacks and business acquisitions that he has connected to Moriarty. Holmes meets with the Gypsy fortune-teller Simza (Noomi Rapace), the intended recipient of the letter he had taken from Adler, sent by her brother Rene. Holmes defeats an assassin sent to kill Simza, but she flees before Holmes can interrogate her. After the wedding of Watson and Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly), Holmes meets Moriarty for the first time. Moriarty informs Holmes that he murdered Adler and will kill Watson and Mary if Holmes' interference continues.

Moriarty's men attack Watson and Mary on a train to their honeymoon. Holmes, having followed the pair for protection, throws Mary from the train into a river below where she is picked up by Holmes' waiting brother, Mycroft (Stephen Fry). After defeating Moriarty's men, Holmes and Watson travel to Paris to locate Simza. When she is found, Holmes tells Simza that she has been targeted because Rene is working for Moriarty, and may have told her about his plans. Simza takes the pair to the headquarters of an anarchist group to which she and Rene had formerly belonged. They learn that the anarchists have been forced to plant bombs for Moriarty.

The trio follows Holmes' deduction that the bomb is in the Paris Opera. However, Holmes realises too late that he has been tricked and that the bomb is in a nearby hotel; the bomb kills a number of assembled businessmen. Holmes discovers that the bomb was a cover for the assassination of Meinhard—one of the attendees—by Moriarty's aide, Sebastian Moran (Paul Anderson). Meinhard's death grants Moriarty ownership of Meinhard's weapons factory in Germany. Holmes, Watson and Simza travel there, following clues in Rene's letters.

At the factory, Moriarty captures, interrogates and tortures Holmes while Watson is under sniper fire from Moran. Holmes spells out Moriarty's horrific plot, revealing that the Professor secretly acquired and owns shares in multiple war profiteering companies supplying morphia, arms, and bandages, and intends to instigate a world war to make himself a fortune. Meanwhile, Watson uses the cannon he had been hiding behind to destroy the lighthouse in which Moran is concealed. The structure collapses into the warehouse where Moriarty is holding Holmes captive. Watson, Simza, and an injured Holmes reunite and escape aboard a moving train. Holmes deduces that Moriarty's final target will be a peace summit in Switzerland, creating an international incident.

At the summit, Holmes reveals that Rene is the assassin and that he is disguised as one of the ambassadors—having been given radical reconstructive surgery by Hoffmanstahl to alter his appearance. Holmes and Moriarty, who is also in attendance, retreat outside to discuss their competing plans. Watson and Simza find Rene and stop his assassination attempt, but Rene is himself silenced by Moran. Outside, Holmes reveals that he previously replaced Moriarty's personal diary that contained all his plans and financing with a duplicate. The original was sent to Mary in London, who decrypted the code using a book that Holmes had noticed in Moriarty's office during their first meeting. Mary passes the information to Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) who seizes the bulk of Moriarty's assets, financially crippling him. Holmes and Moriarty anticipate an impending physical confrontation, and both realise Moriarty would win due to Holmes' injured shoulder. Holmes instead grapples Moriarty and forces them both over the balcony and into the Reichenbach waterfall below.

Their bodies are not found. Following Holmes' funeral, Watson and Mary prepare to have their belated honeymoon when Watson receives a package containing a breathing device of Mycroft's that Holmes had noticed before the summit. Contemplating that Holmes may still be alive, Watson leaves his office to find the delivery man. Holmes, having concealed himself in Watson's office, reads Watson's memoirs on the typewriter and adds a question mark after the words "The End".

Cast

Production

After the success of the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, a sequel was fast-tracked by Warner Bros. with director Guy Ritchie dropping out of an adaptation of Lobo and Robert Downey, Jr. leaving Cowboys & Aliens.[18] It was unclear if Rachel McAdams would appear in the film. McAdams said, "If I do, it won't be a very big thing. It's not a lead part".[19] On 4 February 2011, Warner Bros. confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that McAdams would play a part in the sequel.[13]

The film, then under the running title of Sherlock Holmes 2, was reported to be influenced by Conan Doyle's "The Final Problem".[4] While the film took place a year after the events of the first film,[4] Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was intended to be a stand-alone film that did not require knowledge of the previous film.[4]

In October 2010, Downey, Jr. and Jude Law were seen rehearsing a fight scene as shooting took place in Richmond Park, in south-west London.[20] In October 2010, the steamship PS Waverley was chartered on the English Channel for filming, and a large green screen was erected at Didcot Railway Centre with a large action scene filmed there in mid-November.[10] In late November, a scene was filmed at Victoria Bridge, which is part of the Severn Valley Railway. In January 2011, scenes were also filmed at Hampton Court Palace. Filming also took place in September 2011 in Greenwich at the Royal Naval College.[21]

In early February 2011, principal photography moved for two days to Strasbourg, France. Shooting took place on, around, and inside the Strasbourg Cathedral. The scene was said to be the opening scene of the film, as it covered an assassination/bombing in a German-speaking town.[22]

The film was released on 16 December 2011 in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, on 25 December 2011 in most other countries and on 5 January 2012 in Australia, Poland and Spain.[6]

Reception

Jude Law in January 2012 at the film's French premiere in Paris.

Box office

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows earned $186,848,418 in North America as well as $357,000,000 in other countries for a worldwide total of $543,848,418.[3] It is the 12th highest-grossing film of 2011 worldwide.[23]

In North America, it topped the box office on its opening day with $14.6 million,[24][25] down from the opening-day gross of the original film ($24.6 million).[26] During the weekend, it grossed $39.6 million, leading the box office but earning much less than the opening weekend of its predecessor ($62.3 million).[27] By the end of its theatrical run, it became the 9th highest-grossing film of 2011.[28]

Outside North America, the film earned $14.6 million on its opening weekend, finishing in third place.[29] It topped the overseas box office during three consecutive weekends in January 2012.[30][31][32] It eventually surpassed its predecessor's foreign total ($315.0 million). In the UK, Ireland and Malta, its highest-grossing market after North America, the film achieved a first-place opening of £3.83 million[33] ($5.95 million),[34] over a three-day period, compared to the £3.08 million earned in two days by the original film.[35] It earned $42.2 million in total. Following in largest totals were Russia and the CIS ($28.4 million) and Italy ($24.5 million).[36]

Critical response

The film received mixed or average reviews from film critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 61% of 200 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 6.1 out of 10. The consensus is "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a good yarn thanks to its well-matched leading men but overall stumbles duplicating the well-oiled thrills of the original".[5] Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, gives the film a score of 48 based on 38 reviews.[37]

Roger Ebert, who gave the first film three stars, was even more positive in his review for A Game of Shadows, awarding it three-and-a-half stars and calling it "high-caliber entertainment" that "add[s] a degree of refinement and invention" to the formula, and that the "writers ... wisely devote some of their best scenes to one-on-ones between Holmes and Moriarty."[38]

James Berardinelli gave the film three stars out of four, writing: "A Game of Shadows is a stronger, better realized movie that builds upon the strengths of the original and jettisons some of the weaknesses."[39]

Conversely, Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club felt that the film "aims lower than its predecessor's modest ambition, and still misses the mark."[40]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2012 Saturn Awards Best Action/Adventure Film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Pending [41]
Best Costume Jenny Beavan Pending
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Action Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Pending [42]
Choice Movie Actor: Action Robert Downey, Jr. Pending
Choice Movie Actress: Action Noomi Rapace Pending

Home media

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 12 June 2012 for Region 1[43][44] and 14 May 2012 for Region 2[45][46] and Region 4.[47]

Soundtrack

Main article: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (soundtrack)

The score was composed by Academy Award-winning Hans Zimmer. Zimmer and director Guy Ritchie traveled to Slovakia, Italy and France to reearch the authentic Roma gypsy music. Zimmer and his core musicians, with National Democratic Institute members, visited seven Roma villages to learn about the Roma people and "listen to as many musicians as we could." Deeply impressed, Zimmer arranged for 13 of the Roma musicians with their violins and accordions to join him in Vienna at a studio for a recording session. Zimmer wove this gypsy music into the score for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Besides discovering the wonderful cultural music, Zimmer also said he had never seen such poverty in Central Europe. A portion of proceeds from the soundtrack will help the Roma pay for necessities like water, heating and bus fare to get their children to school.[48] The soundtrack also contains works of Johann Strauss II, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ennio Morricone and Franz Schubert.

Sequel

Warner Bros. has announced that the first draft for Sherlock Holmes 3 is being produced with screenwriter Drew Pearce writing the script. In January 2012 it was announced that Guy Ritchie had signed on to direct the 3rd film in the franchise and wants to have more of the third film shot in Hollywood.[49]

References

  1. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Amy; Fritz, Ben (15 December 2011). "Movie Projector: 'Sherlock,' 'Alvin' sequels kick off holiday season". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Box Office Mojo.
  4. ^ a b c d Tilly, Chris (22 February 2011). "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Preview". IGN. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d Sciretta, Peter (27 May 2010). "Sherlock Holmes 2 Gets December 2011 Release Date, Rachel McAdams Will Return". /Film. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  7. ^ "Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes Salary 2012 | Celebrity Net Worth". Therichest.org. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  8. ^ Name *. "Jude Law Salary « cattle call auditions". Cattlecallauditions.com. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  9. ^ Melrose, Kevin (23 November 2010). "Noomi Rapace to play Sim the Gypsy in 'Sherlock Holmes 2′". Spin Off Online. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d Ffrench, Andrew (4 November 2010). "Sherlock movie stars steam into Didcot". The Oxford Times. Newsquest. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  11. ^ "Jared Harris discusses 'fun' Sherlock Holmes 2". Total Film. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Stephen Fry talks Sherlock Holmes 2". Total Film. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  13. ^ a b Bierly, Mandi (4 February 2011). "Rachel McAdams cameo confirmed for 'Sherlock Holmes' sequel". Time Inc. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  14. ^ "Rachel McAdams | Actress Salary Report | Comcast.net". Xfinity.comcast.net. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  15. ^ "Eddie Marsan reprising Sherlock Holmes role". Collider.com. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  16. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Movie Review". ComingSoon.net.
  17. ^ Thompson, Jody (19 October 2010). "Take that, you bounder: Jude Law takes swing at a gypsy in new Sherlock Holmes film (after quick practice on Guy Ritchie)". Daily Mail. UK: Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  18. ^ "Guy Ritchie Leaving Lobo, Aiming for Sherlock Holmes 2". /Film. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  19. ^ Ditzian, Eric (9 November 2010). "Rachel McAdams Unsure About Doing 'Sherlock Holmes 2'". MTV. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  20. ^ Thompson, Jody (19 December 2009). "Jude Law takes swing at a gypsy in new Sherlock Holmes film (after quick practice on Guy Ritchie)". Daily Mail. UK: Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  21. ^ Teed, Paul (24 January 2011). "Film crews at Hampton Court Palace 'shooting Sherlock Holmes movie'". Elmbridge Guardian. Newsquest. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  22. ^ "Explosions au coeur de Strasbourg... (Explosions in the heart of Strasbourg ...)". Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace (in French). 4 February 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  23. ^ 2011 "Worldwide Grosses", Box Office Mojo.
  24. ^ "Sherlock Holmes sequel leads US box office". BBC. 19 December 2011.
  25. ^ "Sherlock Holmes fires an opening salvo from the shadows at the UK box office". The Guardian. UK. 20 December 2011.
  26. ^ "Friday Report: 'Sherlock,' 'Alvin' Stumble, 'M:I' Dominant in IMAX". Boxofficemojo.com. 17 December 2011.
  27. ^ "Weekend Report: Disappointing Debuts From 'Sherlock,' 'Alvin' Sequels". Boxofficemojo.com. 19 December 2011.
  28. ^ 2011 DOMESTIC GROSSES, Box Office Mojo.
  29. ^ "Around-the-World Roundup: 'M:I-4' Lights Fuse Overseas". Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  30. ^ "Around-the-World Roundup: 'Sherlock' Finds Foreign Lead". Boxofficemojo.com. 9 January 2012.
  31. ^ "Around-the-World Roundup: 'Sherlock' Cracks Code Again". Boxofficemojo.com. 15 January 2012.
  32. ^ "Around-the-World Roundup: 'Sherlock' Outwits Competition for Third-Straight Weekend". Boxofficemojo.com. 25 January 2012.
  33. ^ Published Tuesday, 20 Dec 2011, 10:55 GMT (20 December 2011). "'Sherlock Holmes 2' beats 'Chipmunks' at UK box office: Top 10 in full". Digital Spy.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ "United Kingdom Box Office December 16–18, 2011". Boxofficemojo.com.
  35. ^ Published Wednesday, 30 Dec 2009, 10:09 GMT (30 December 2009). "'Chipmunks' beats 'Avatar' at UK BO". Digital Spy.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=sherlockholmes2.htm
  37. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  38. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews". rogerebert.com.
  39. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – Reelviews Movie Reviews". Reelviews.net.
  40. ^ Phipps, Keith (15 December 2011). "Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows | Film | Movie Review". The A.V. Club.
  41. ^ "Nominations for the 38th Annual Saturn Awards". Saturn Award. Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  42. ^ "First Wave of "Teen Choice 2012" Nominees Announced". Teen Choice Awards. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows DVD". Amazon.com. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  44. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Blu-Ray". Amazon.com. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  45. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows DVD UK". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  46. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Blu-Ray UK". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  47. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows DVD Australia". dstore.com. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  48. ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hans-zimmer-sherlock-holmes-roma-gypsies-275467
  49. ^ Fleming, Mike (23 October 2011). "Warner Bros Ready For 'Sherlock Holmes 3′". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
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