FILMEDGE REVIEWS HOLMES ON BLU-RAY — March 31, 2010

FILMEDGE reviews the 2-Disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack release of SHERLOCK HOLMES with in-depth bonus feature analysis, now available in stores.

HOLMES SCORE MUSICIANS VIDEO — February 28, 2010

Warner Brothers passed along this whimsical music video celebrating Hans Zimmer's Oscar-nominated original score for SHERLOCK HOLMES.

The musicians are Hans Zimmer, the composer nominated for his 8th Academny Award for this score. This video features Zimmer and the original musicians that played on the score recordings, with director Guy Ritchie and star Robert Downey Jr. making fun cameos.  FILMEDGE wishes best of luck to Zimmer at the awards.

HOLMES COMES HOME ON DVD/BLU IN MARCH— February 28, 2010

Updated — FILMEDGE previews the home entertainment release bringing SHERLOCK HOLMES home to you on March 30th. Investigate all the available specs of both the 3-Disc Blu-Ray Combo Pack and standard DVD edition now at our in-depth article.

FILMEDGE REVIEWS SHERLOCK HOLMES — December 29, 2009

FILMEDGE has our 4-star review of SHERLOCK HOLMES online now, having enjoyed the on-screen cameraderie of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as the hard-hitting, humorous crime solving team.  Guy Ritchie's energetic directing style is a far cry from stodgy, period piece visions previously filmed as he and his cast put their own distinctive stamp on the Holmes legend.  Investigate our full review.

CAN YOU SOLVE HOLMES' NEWEST CASE? — November 03, 2009

Registered players received a new telegram via email that Warner Brothers' online SHERLOCK HOLMES game 221B opened for play today.  The Facebook-based mystery is afoot with players assuming the identities of either Holmes or Watson, brought on to the case of a museum robbery by Inspector Lestrade.

This game features an impressive use of Flash video and animation as players explore the scene of the crime, seek and gather evidence, read profiles of the suspects and victims involved, and make notes for submitting their deduction of who is the inside accomplice abetting the theft.  Likely you will need to install Microsoft's Silverlight plug-in to run the app which explores the robber's lair for clues, so check your browser and system compatibility before playing.  FILMEDGE will soon open our Game Play Blog to chart our progress and review of the viral game campaign as we proceed. Good luck, detectives!

HOLMES PROMO DURING MACFARLANE SPECIAL — October 31, 2009

A report by the Los Angeles Times has uncovered a sponsor switch for the upcoming Seth MacFarlane comedy special and Warner Brothers have jumped into the opportunity.  The Fox network event "Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show" had been heavily sponosored by Microsoft as a cross-promotion for Windows 7, but the computer corp has backed out of the show due to its edgy content.  One can't help but ask: what was Microsoft expecting from MacFarlane?  Warner Brothers seized the moment and will be running an undetermined promo for SHERLOCK HOLMES in front of MacFarlane's "Family Guy" audience which the studio hopes to entice into theaters December 25th.  Fascinating to see WB aggressively promoting HOLMES on a rival's network which may be a clue to how invested Warners is in creating a high profile launch of their intended new film franchise.

FACEBOOK GAME AFOOT FOR HOLMES — October 30, 2009

Those who registered at the SHERLOCK HOLMES website got a telegram in their email this morning, a dispatch from 1891 London urging you to go directly to 221B Baker Street to begin investigation immediately:

The link delivers you to a new HOLMES website http://www.221b.sh/ playing a new video introduction upon your arrival.  Hosted by Inspector LeStrade (Eddie Marsan), players begin the game via their Facebook account and choosing whether they will play as Sherlock Holmes or John Watson.  Next players have a chance to pick their crime-solving partner in the game with another Facebook friend, or a one-player option is available.  Once you're registered as a solo player or team, watch for more telegrams to alert you to the next step in solving the mystery.  Good luck, detectives!

NEW DOMESTIC ONE-SHEET POSTER REVEALED — October 27, 2009

FILMEDGE just received the new SHERLOCK HOLMES one-sheet poster, available now for download in our Case Evidence section.

Featuring stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as the detective duo of Holmes and Watson, the clue-filled design also hosts new portraits of Rachel McAdams,as Irene Adler and Mark Strong as the mysterious Lord Blackwood.

Can you decipher any clues to reveal this December's cinematic mystery amid the poison bottle, knife, pistol, keys and raven populating the design?  Get the poster now to begin your own investigation!

SLIGHTLY NEW HOLMES TV TRAILER — October 21, 2009

A slightly revised trailer from the previous second trailer has recently appeared, expanding on Rachel McAdams' presence and injecting a bit more humor into previewing HOLMES. Courtesy of TheMovieBox, this trailer also introduces another bone of personal contention between Holmes and Watson, namely the former pestering Watson's dog with scientific experiments.  Fear not, apparently no Doctor's dog is harmed in the pursuit of the case's solution.  Visit our Moving Pictures theater to view this trailer.

DOWNEY "KICKING ASS" AS HOLMES — October 09, 2009

In a recent interview with ReelzChannel, actor Robert Downey Jr. describes this tough, dynamic vision of SHERLOCK HOLMES as "kicking ass for two-and-a-half hours."  Applying the experience and training he's garnered after IRON MAN, Downey said, "Suddenly, I'm co-choreographing with these veteran stunt guys and bad-asses. And I'm in there, having this meat-eating, man-slaughtering competition with these guys, and then, at the same time, playing a very reserved Brit. And that, to me, was a massive education and just a process."  Read the linked interview for more including Downey's insights on the toll of playing his multi-layered character in TROPIC THUNDER.

HOLMES SEQUEL AFOOT, PITT IN TALKS — September 21, 2009

The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Warner Brothers is already developing a SHERLOCK HOLMES. sequel, and Brad Pitt is currently discussing a role as nemesis Professor Moriarty. Reportedly writers Kieran and Michele Mulroney are in line to write the sequel, which is expected to reunite most of the first film's cast and include Moriarty as the antagonist.  Pitt has long been rumored to be interested in the villain role, and unsubstantiated gossip had the actor perhaps appearing in cameo this December's film to set up the character, but HR reports "those familiar with the script say the character is in shadow and cannot be recognized."  Thus we can expect to see the specter of Moriarty in HOLMES this winter, but not Pitt-ed against Robert Downey Jr. just yet.   

DOWNEY: HOLMES IS A THINKING FIGHTER — September 11, 2009

In an interview with that bastion of cinematic appreciation, the Wall Street Journal, actor Robert Downey Jr. provides some intriguing clues to his portrayal of the titular sleuth SHERLOCK HOLMES that should ease the minds of premature critics.  Some balked at the idea of action helmer Guy Ritchie directing a Holmes mystery and were taken aback at the film's high-octane teaser trailer.  Yet Downey has very reassuring comments on the topic of Sherlock's physical side: "Holmes always thinks his fights through and wins them in his head before he even physically gets into them. That embellishment is really central to the way action plays out in the movie." Indeed, the star insists that readers of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original source fiction will corroborate the author's portrait of Holmes any anything but an aloof, sneering sleuth in a Deerstalker cap.

Downey also insists the generous dose of action will not distract from solid storytelling, nor his focus on making the Holmes character both vital and relevant to 21st century audiences, revealing that "he has this dedication to doing the right thing to the exclusion of doing all other things. He sacrifices everything so he can become better at what he does. As a character actor, I found that trait endlessly compelling."   Read the full interview for more insights including how Downey researched the character and avoided the cinematic cliches holding back Holmes from his true origins.

STRAIGHT UP, HOLMES 'TOUGHEST JOB' — August 27, 2009

In an interview with MTV Movies, star Robert Downey Jr. admitted that SHERLOCK HOLMES "is easily the toughest job I've ever had," but not for the silly rumours surrounding the film and character recently.  Lately some wild speculation has popped up on blogs that Holmes and his trusted partner in criminology, Dr. Watson, might be gay in Guy Ritchie's upcoming film.  Not that there's anything wrong with it, but this doesn't seem the case at all for Holmes.   "I think bromance is passé," Downey comments, adding with wry humour "We are two men who happen to be roommates who wrestle a lot!" 

Both Ritchie and co-star Jude Law chime in that the Holmes/Watson relationship is indeed central to this new look at the detective duo.  Law reveals "whether [Holmes and Watson] will or won't stay together and whether they will or won't drive each other 'round the bend before the end of the case is very much front and center in the story."  Ritchie confirms their undeniable closeness as trusted partners in the platonic sense, observing "These guys are sort of in love with each other. It's real mateship."  While this December's action-mystery flick may not pair the crime solvers intimately, no doubt interested audience members can let their fanfic fly in even bolder re-imaginings of Sherlock's secrets.

VIRAL WEBSITE DEEPENS HOLMES MYSTERY — August 21, 2009

As has been the trend with high profile Warner Brothers releases like THE DARK KNIGHT, the studio has now unleashed a mysterious new viral site promoting SHERLOCK HOLMES and the internet game is afoot!  Lacking any domain name, the URL of the viral site is (logically) a series of numbers: http://94.236.57.221/ where you are greeted by ominous music and a request to activate your computer speakers.  Five boxes sit under a tiny question mark where you need to enter the correct code to proceed.  Let's not make the solution too easy for you net detectives, but shall we say the proper noun of a prominent female character in the film will be the key to unlock the site.

A hooded man, his face half-covered in shadow, implores visitors to pay close heed if they "seek the knowledge and power of the Magus."  For the uninitiated, a magus can be a magician or sorcerer — which appears to fit neatly with the mysterious aura surrounding Mark Strong's villain character, Lord Blackwood, and indeed the hints of supernatural foreboding permeating the trailers.  Do you possess the intelligence, the intrepidity, the will and the discretion to explore this dark enigma?  For now, our biggest clue to advance in the viral game are the Four Words of the Magus given by the hooded figure: are you wise enough to know, brave enough to dare, possessing the will to proceed and can you keep silent about events to unfold?

Visitors will need to enter their birth year and consent to share your email address with Warner Brothers for the purpose of registering to play this viral site game.  Bookmark the site and watch for notification when new clues or updates appear!

PITT RUMOURS ABOUND FOR HOLMES — August 19, 2009

The Chicago Tribune printed a Liz Smith column yesterday reporting that talk continues spreading about Brad Pitt making an appearance as Professor Moriarty, Holmes' diabolical nemesis, in Guy Ritchie's SHERLOCK HOLMES.  Smith asserts, "This — according to British tabs and other far-flung sources — came after studio execs did not like the rough cut of Ritchie's take on the classic tale."   FILMEDGE has never been fond of tabloids and far-flung sources, and such reports sound like a misinterpretation of a very common production event: additional pickup shooting.

A statement released by Warner Brothers representatives fairly strongly settles the case:

We've scheduled a few days on set to shoot a couple of additional scenes, obtain pick-up shots, and perfect some of the visual effects elements, all of which is standard filmmaking practice.

If (and it's a big if) Pitt were to appear in a Moriarty cameo opposite Robert Downey Jr.'s Holmes, it's quite likely all his shooting would happen in one bloc of production during pickups, when the busy actor would be available.  And as such, it would be nearly impossible to change the villain of the film by dropping Pitt into the cast this long after production wrapped, as rumour-based reports imply.  Had Warner execs been unhappy with director Guy Ritchie's early cut, it would take a massive reshoot to replace the villain and likely require Downey and Jude Law's Watson to film with Pitt for his inclusion to have any story relevance.   Such is clearly not the case.

With Pitt and Ritchie being such cinematic partners in crime (see their wild and wacky collaboration in the 2000 heist flick SNATCH), the hookup seems quite likely and feasible for either a cameo appearance and/or a villainous lead in a HOLMES sequel.

UPDATE: MTV has confirmed that indeed Moriarty makes some appearance in SHERLOCK HOLMES, but likely in an uncredited cameo role and apparently not played by Brad Pitt.  A direct quote from director Guy Ritchie states:

"I don’t know how to answer that other than to say there is some kind of appearance," he said. "All will be revealed. I’m afraid I have to be slightly ambiguous about this but you’ll understand what I’m talking about when you see the movie."

No confirmation of Pitt playing the role, though reports and rumours abound on the London production, but in any case Ritchie is on the record about Moriarty's nefarious presence.  Sure sounds like a sequel set-up cameo to FILMEDGE, who will follow the story as it develops.

FIRST LOOK AT BLACKWOOD POSTER DESIGN — August 7, 2009

MTV Movies has a nice preview of Mark Strong's teaser poster featuring the stone cold glare of Lord Blackwood, the sinisterly supernatural villain of this December's SHERLOCK HOLMES.

In a nice wordplay off the character description of Rachel McAdams' poster of Irene Adler as "Dangerously Alluring," Blackwood is described as the "Depraved Adversary" to Holmes and Watson.  Strong certainly looks the part as this fur-collared menace with the animal stare, an imposing antagonist to be sure.

UPDATE: You can also find the new Blackwood poster in our Case Evidence files.