This was one of those instances where we walked into the theatre right when the previews were set to start only to discover that the only free two seats together were in the front row. At this theatre, those seats should be eliminated. The viewing angle is all wrong. Chiropractors should be standing by. Fortunately for us, the people in the next row were wililng to move down so we could sit there. I never thought I could sit too close to Robert Downey, Jr. It can really happen.
And this is the exact wrong movie to sit too close due to the look and feel of this film. I didn't understand it in the first of this series, and I continue to not understand why the action sequences are fimed in such a herky jerky, disjointed fashion. Is it supposed to reflect the state of Holmes's mind? His intense sense of deduction? I find it distracting, frenetic, and basically irritating. My problem with this series is I want a Redford-Newman vehicle. I think Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law have talent and charisma to spare, and they should concentrate on writing a good script and letting these two actors do their work and keep the production values to a minimum. That's what I would ideally want, but I'm not their demographic. I will grumble and buy my ticket, because I enjoy watching Robert Downey, Jr.'s work that much, but it is one of those instances where while I'm watching the movie, I'm often wishing for something else in my head.
This paragraph contains spoilers. I wondered as well about the future of this franchise. I thought that Rachel McAdams had established herself well in the first film as Sherlock's love interest and was surprised at the hasty way in which she was dispatched in this one. I also imagine that Moriarity is dead. Is it wise in a franchise that plans to continue to eliminate Holmes's chief nemesis?
If I ruled the cinematic world, I would also want to have a sit down with Robert Downey, Jr. and ask him to do some independent, quirky projects. These action movies are all fine and fun, and I will see them, because of him, but I want him to stretch his acting muscles as well. He is one of our greatest actors. According to IMDb, his future projects are "Iron Man 3" and "The Avengers." I just feel we need him to also be doing other things.
Comments