At the Cinema - January 2010

Sherlock Holmes – 6

I don’t think of Guy Ritchie as the most accomplished director, but he’s done a nice job with this little ditty. There are some cool things here, like the way Sherlock visualizes his physical actions beforehand, to lend a cerebral aspect to the physical action you wouldn’t expect from Sherlock. The un-cool thing is that most of Sherlock’s brilliant deductions are revealed at the very end in a last-minute barrage. In other words if you happen to go to the bathroom for that minute, you’ll never know how he figures it all out.

Robert Downey Jr. is his usual brilliant self. Jude Law seems miscast as Dr. Watson, but then Jude Law always seems miscast to me. He’s one of those actors I just don’t get. Rachel McAdams lights up the screen, and all in all it’s diversionary – a nice way to spend a Saturday at the matinee before going out to eat.

So, that’s the only movie I saw in January, but I have a special list from Mr. Apocalypto, my friend Cliff, who loves “end of the world” movies and sprints to all of them. I finally asked, “ok, which are your favorites,” and he gave me his top 20, in order:

The Terminator 1984
The Road 2009
On The Beach 1959
The Day After 1983
Planet Of The Apes 1968
Testament 1983
Terminator 2; Judgment Day 1991
I Am Legend 2007
The Omega Man 1971
The Last Man On Earth 1964
Fail Safe 1964
War Of The Worlds 2005
28 Days Later 2002
Children Of Men 2006
The Book Of Eli 2010
Five 1951
The World, The Flesh and The Devil 1959
Deep Impact 1998
When Worlds Collide 1951
The Trigger Effect 1996

Did he miss any?