A Study of Sherlocks

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created one of the most famous detectives in the world, so famous in fact some people around the world believe that the occupants of 221B Baker Street exist. I am talking about Sherlock Holmes, the super sleuth who dabbles with narcotics and has a knack for deduction. At the moment the media is currently awash with two depictions of the great detective, on the small screen and on the silver one. Here I shall compare the two franchises and see who takes the proverbial biscuit. Mmm biscuit.

Sherlock Holmes:

Let's start with the great man himself. Played by Benedict Cumberbatch in Steven Moffat's reimaging and Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) in the two new Guy Ritchie movies. Each bring their own interpretation to the much played detective, actors include Basil Rathbone, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Mr Cumberbatch brings an aloofness to the character which is apparent in the novels, and his unability to read social situations is expertly delivered. Whereas Downey Jr. is less aloof and more erratic, manic if you will. His Holmes is more frantic than the more laidback version on television. Downey Jr's detective is more hands on, literally, he is handy with his fists and his feet. Both offer different aspects of the character and play them brilliantly opposite Watson.

Winner: Cumberbatch, as good as Downey Jr is, Benedict seems closer to Conan-Doyle's creation.

Dr. John Watson:

Cher to his Sonny. Butch to his Cassidy. Sooty to his Sweep. Dr. John Watson has to put up with Holmes' constant shenanigans but although he moans about his friend he can never leave him. He's the rock, not as in Dwayne Johnson, I mean a man men can rely on. Embodied by Martin Freeman and Jude Law. Freeman brings his great everyman quality to the role like he did as Arthur Dent in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but he can also turn on the darker side. He plays a former veteran of war with great empathy. But let's face it, he isn't as good looking as Jude. Ah Jude. Ok man crush aside. I'm not a big Jude Law fan but he fits Watson's shoes perfectly. A perfect foil for Downey Jr.'s slapdash Holmes and sports an impressive moustache.

Winner: Jude Law. More believable as a doctor and has more facial expressions than Martin Freeeman.

The Past or the Present:

A Study in Scarlet was the first Holmes novel and appeared in 1887, a Victorian P.I. amid the muck and smog of a London which was a hive of scum and villainy. Thank you Obi-Wan. The time period is very much part of the novels and most adaptations have kept the dynamic duo in the 19th Century until now. Guy Ritchie gives us a London that is a melting pot of nationalities, where the upper classes rule and the streets are paved with mud. Not much different from today then. But Moffat has replaced London of then to London of now. It's still dangerous but hansom cabs are now black and Baker Street contains are cafe.

Dead heat: It doesn't matter what time period it is set in, the themes are the same. As clever as the television has been updating the stories to the 21st Century it is still enjoyable seeing Holmes and Watson in the 19th Century.

Professor Moriarty:

The Napoleon of crime doesn't appear much in Conan-Doyle's novels, but he is the arch nemesis of the great detective. Embodied by Jared Harris the son of Richard, he plays the master criminal as the antithesis of Holmes but is equally as charming and smooth. He never over camps it like say Alan Rickman as the sheriff of Nottingham, he could be a Bond villain. Whereas Andrew Scott, taps into the psychotic side and equally pulls it off. He is Jim, not James. More menacing than Harris but just as effective.

Winner: Jared Harris. Although I like Scott's interpretation I prefer Harris' cool, calm and collected take on Moriarty.

Overall Winner: The audience. I know it's a cop-out but both depictions are both fantastic in their own way that we are the winners. This blog was just an opportunity to praise both of them.

Wow, I managed to get through that entire blog without making an obvious Sherlockian pun. That is elementary. Bugger.