SHERLOCK: A STUDY IN PINK

UK, 2010, 90 minutes, Colour.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Rupert Graves, Phil Davis, Una Stubbs.
Directed by Paul Mc Guigan.

This is the pilot film for a series on Sherlock Holmes. What makes it different is that the stories have been updated to the 21st century. Instead of the forensic evidence of the past, the means of communications in the past, this is a film about the internet age. Holmes has a website, Doctor Watson a blog. There is a lot of discussion about internet technology, the key to solving the crime involves a password.

Benedict Cumberbatch portrays a rather younger Sherlock Holmes than we are used to. He is quite a flamboyant figure, especially in appearance. He is quite arrogant in his manner and enjoys, even relishes, solving crimes. By contrast, Martin Freeman is Doctor Watson. Freeman is usually a comedian, but is very good as a strong but sometimes self-effacing Doctor Watson who can rise to difficult occasions. Again, with a contemporary emphasis, he has been wounded in Afghanistan. Rupert Graves is Inspector Lestrade, not a figure of fun or ridicule, but a decent policeman who turns to Holmes when he cannot solve the case. Phil Davis has a very good role as a cab driver who is the key to the whole mystery.

The film was made for television, but came out just after the Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law Sherlock Holmes. They provide an interesting contrast and comparison.

The film is based on the first Conan Doyle story of Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet. The film is directed by Scots director Paul Mc Guigan, who made such films as The Acid House and Gangster No.1 as well as The Reckoning and Wicker Park.

1. Perennial interest in Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson? The crimes, the methods of solving, explanations and logic?

2. The update, a contemporary Sherlock Holmes, contemporary Doctor Watson? Websites and texting, mobiles and passwords?

3. Sherlock Holmes as younger than expected, the genius, proud and arrogant, his vanity, showing off? How likable? His choice of Watson for roommate? The bond between them?

4. Watson and his being wounded in Afghanistan, his role as a doctor, soldier? His going to the psychiatrist? The blogging? The psychosomatic limp, his stick? Being wounded in the shoulder? Returning to England, his sister and her friend, not having accommodation?

5. Inspector Lestrade, ordinary, sympathetic, asking Holmes’ help, observing, making concessions to Holmes?

6. The Scotland Yard staff, Sally and her critique, Taylor and his irking Holmes? Holmes’ nasty comments to him?

7. The presentation of the suicides, the focus on the pills? The headline stories? The mystery? Lestrade, the press conference, Holmes texting that he was wrong, texting to all the journalists as well? His trying to make a link between the suicides, the possible murders? His speeches?

8. Watson in the park, meeting his friend, the invitation to go to Baker Street? Holmes impressing him, the extensive story about his sister but missing that it was his sister? The role of Mrs Hudson, her welcome, her insisting she was landlady not housekeeper?

9. Holmes and his glee, a case, relishing the deaths, the exercising of his intelligence? Taking Watson to view the body, his analysis, ‘rache’ on the floor, the German word for revenge, the password? The coat, the missing suitcase, the wet clothes, the deduction about Cardiff? The autopsy?

10. The encounter, the taxi driver – and what this led to?

11. The suspicious man, the audience thinking it was the villain, his discussions with Watson, wanting him to make a stand about Holmes? The irony of the revelation that it was Mycroft, the rivalry with his brother, the surveillance by MI6?

12. The issue of the suitcase, the search for it, Holmes taking it, hiding it, Lestrade and his search of Holmes’ apartment, the discussion about a drug bust, the issue of Holmes and the drugs? The mobile phone and its ringing?

13. Lestrade, the police in the flat, the issue of Holmes’ drugs, the violin?

14. Mrs Hudson and the news of the taxi, Holmes eventually going, the ride with the taxi driver?

15. The revelation, the killings, the psychological state of the driver? Taking Holmes to the empty school? Pulling the gun? The challenge, wits and daring, the poison and the pill without the poison? Holmes and his analysis of the driver, his illness, his children and the need for money? The driver and his taunting of Holmes? His addiction to solving crime, to gambling to be successful? The confrontation, the pills, Holmes’ choice? His wanting to know which was the real poison? His decision not to take any of them?

16. Watson, the search for Holmes, through the building, the window, shooting the taxi driver? Holmes and his realisation, covering for Doctor Watson?

17. Holmes’ demand of the taxi driver, the mind behind the killings – and the answer, Moriarty?

18. The spirit of Sherlock Holmes stories? Successfully transferred to the 21st century – and a younger Sherlock Holmes?