SHERLOCK

[nickd]

Hi friends.
Thought some of you might be interested in the info at Wikipedia about this forthcoming pilot-plus-series. Sounds promising: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_(BBC_TV_programme)

[Ellen]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the link.

I find it interesting that here in America, I have been seeing trailers for a new Robert Downey, Jr., "Sherlock Holmes" film. It looks very realistic and true to the character penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I really hope I can catch it. This one is written by Michael Robert Jackson and Anthony Peckham. Jude Law is Watson and Eddie Marsan is LeStrade. Eddie was also in God on Trial with Rupert, so we have full circle between the two "Holmes" versions.

I will be interested to hear reviews of the BBC drama once it airs, and the series too. If I get to see the American film I will be sure to report as well. Too bad I will not be able to see the one on the BBC. We can't view BBC films after being aired here in America the way you all can in the UK. Too bad, as we really miss out on a lot of Rupert's work.

I understand Garrow's Law was brilliant too.

Nick, please send a review when you can after the pilot is shown.

Thanks and have a nice holiday.

Ellen

[nickd]

Hi Ellen.

Thanks for your nice post. I'm keeping a lookout for SHERLOCK, but I suspect it will be bumped to 2010. Perhaps they want to make sure the three additional episodes (will they really be 90' each?) are "in the can" before they air the original one. Also, thanks for the nudge to see the Guy Ritchie/Rob't Downey, Jr./Jude Law version. I do think Mr. Downey is one of our best actors, so glad to see he's pulled his life together and is on a positive track.

Yes, it's frustrating that we can't watch repeats of everything online in the U.S., and particularly that many British shows are available over there but blocked here. Especially when so much radio content is available worldwide, look at the BBC Radio 3 classical programming (including the Proms each summer), you can listen to all the concerts at your leisure for a week after the initial broadcast.

RG is the reason I own a multi-region DVD player, I got tired of seeing the amount of Region 2 material just out of reach, as it were. I'm glad I made the investment, as now I can watch at least some additional U.K. films and T.V. shows.

Just to clarify, I live in the U.S. and not the U.K. Somewhat south of South Portland, though I'm a New Englander originally...

Re: Eddie Marsan, you may recall he was also in CHARLES II, he played Titus Oates, the anti-Catholic agitator. There was a memorable scene where he got a bloody roughing-up from the Duke of Buckingham (RG). This was the first time I was aware of him, I thought he was excellent both there and in GOD ON TRIAL. He plays John Houseman in the new film ME AND ORSON WELLES (very enjoyable pic), perhaps not ideally cast, but in his key speech manages to capture the character and moment very effectively.

Happy holidays to you, and to all at RGO, and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year. And may 2010 bring some portion of PEACE to this planet...

Nick D.

[Ellen]

Hi again Nick,

So sorry I did not realize you were an American. I just assumed.

I did see Charles II, but it has been awhile. Thanks for reminding us of another Marsan link to our Rupert.

When we were in London in 2004 we were lucky enough to see Dumb Show... twice. We saw Rupert at the stage door both nights. He graciously took the time to speak with us at length. I remember one thing he said, which struck me as quite different from the US. Rupert has kept in constant contact with many of his former co-stars, sees football games, plays games, speaks on the phone etc. He explained that the world of actors is all like a small family in England. In fact, he is the one who told us that James Wilby was appearing in Don Juan at the same time we were visiting. Our last night in London we saw and met Mr. Wilby as well. He was not nearly as outgoing nor friendly as Rupert, though. We did have one huge bonus that night, however. Alan Rickman was in attendance and stayed after for drinks at the cafe. He was very cordial and happy to sign autographs.

I too have a multi region DVD player. One must to be able to watch so many films which are not available here. I moved last year and unfortunately have not had time to get my DVD player hooked up again, so my movie viewing has come to a crashing halt. I keep saying, "One of these days!". The days all meld together, it seems, and before you know it years have passed.

I hear you about the release of Sherlock. It seems reasonable that all episodes should be "in the can" and ready to air with little interruption. We all hate to wait for the next eposide, or next book or whatever. It is maddening. ha ha

It is getting very cold here now. Wind chills of -10 degrees F. Not much snow for Christmas, but the air is sure feeling" holiday-ish"

Glad to get to know you Nick.

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.

Ellen

[nickd]

Hi, friends.
The first episode of SHERLOCK is slated to air on BBC One on Sunday, July 25th. Presumably the other two 90' episodes will follow. U.K. DVD release is scheduled for September 13. The series will be shown in the U.S. on Masterpiece Mystery (PBS) some time next season.
Here in New York, one of our PBS stations is running an episode of the classic Jeremy Brett adaptations every Tuesday evening. I've really enjoyed seeing them again: Brett was surely the most entertainingly eccentric Holmes ever.
There are probably lots of Sherlock Holmes fans who feel passionately (one way or tother) about the whole idea of updating Conan Doyle. To me, it's always fascinating when a fictional character becomes so "real" to people.... I certainly enjoyed reading the SH stories when I was young, but I guess I never formed that sort of attachment to the books or the character. I think I liked G.K. Chesterton's "Father Brown" stories more, despite the handful of stories where his cultural prejudices - notably anti-Jewish and anti-Hindu - were on blatant display (something that hit me more forcefully when I re-read them later).
I hope that all of you are enjoying this (extremely hot) summer.
All the best,
Nick D.

[Ross Eldridge]

Hallo Nick & Ellen,

I saw a "coming attractions" the other night inserted on the Beeb and thought "Wasn't that Rupert?" as faces flew by ... And then "Sherlock" was mentioned ... I'm delighted to find it confirmed here on RGO, and I shall make sure I watch the telly next Sunday night, or set the "BT Vision Box" to record it.

I also (finally) bumped into "V for Vendetta" and could not make heads or tails of it. A good many actors I know and like, but this film didn't do much at all for me. A friend in Mexico also had it turn up on his telly, and he was puzzled from the first minute.

Well, I must make something for my midday meal, I skipped breakfast. Watching the sky, a bus to catch if it doesn't rain in the next hour.

All best!

Ross

[Ross Eldridge]

Hallo!

I've just watched the first of this new "Sherlock" series, called "A Study in Pink".

With Steven Moffat at the helm, flying high after a brilliant series of "Doctor Who", one imagines a great many people will have tuned in. They'll not be disappointed. It was a cracking story. I was worried beforehand over the new setting ... now ... for the adventures of Holmes and Watson. A world of mobile phones, SatNavs, London's streets full of cars. But that didn't bother me at all. The use of text imposed over the picture was fun and helpful. Mobile rings and one sees the text message on the phone near it.

The two leads are well cast. The actor playing Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch, was in one of the recent Doctor Who episodes playing Vincent van Gogh ... possibly the best episode of the series for me, his characterization brought me to tears. The new character he's taken on is one we are familiar with, but he's playing it a bit differently. Sherlock is a tad manic, dare I say a tad Doctor Who, and his speedy delivery of dialogue at times was difficult for me at times. Martin Freeman plays the steady bloke, his Watson at first believes the best of Holmes, and when he's let down or puzzled, he adapts.

Rupert Graves is the third main character, and on screen a good deal of the 90 minutes. Inspector Lestrade is, in a way, a friend of Sherlock, though he finds Sherlock annoying, puzzling. But he knows he can help out on a case that has the police force professionals baffled. RG plays Lestrade as a bit weary, at a press conference he's not comfortable, he's not enjoying the pressure. Rupert looks the part, playing his real age I think, greying, short hair, open-necked shirt, not a uniformed copper.

The actors playing Holmes and Watson are younger than the characters I grew up reading and watching on the telly and at the cinema. No pipe smoking, Sherlock has nicotine patches. There's a suggestion of earlier drug use, I seem to recall Holmes had a cocaine habit in the original stories, but one could buy it at Harrod's then. And there's a sort of camp feeling to the relationship between Holmes and Watson. Watson asks Sherlock if he has a girlfriend. "No, I haven't time for that." "Do you have a boyfriend then?" Long pause. "No." At the end of the episode, the murder resolved, and an appearance by Moriaty completed, Holmes and Watson go off to get some fast food takeout together, and plan an evening back at the Baker Street flat they're now sharing.

It's a fun show, two more in this series, but one can imagine it going on if the actors can be persuaded to stay with it. Rupert might have lots of work if his character remains Sherlock's main man at the police station.

What did YOU think?

Cheers!

Ross

[nickd]

Hello, Ross, thanks for your post.
As BBCPlayer works only in the UK, I caught up with "A Study in Pink" on YouTube, a very nice widescreen post by "scienceofdeduction" (let me add that I've already ordered the DVD).
Watched it twice, thoroughly enjoyed it both times. Really witty and clever script (Steven Moffitt and Mark Gatiss), excellently directed (Paul McGuigan) and inventively shot and edited - on film stock, I think, a pleasant visual change from the HD video so common these days. Cumberbatch and Freeman great casting, singly and together, plenty of sparks between them in this "getting to know you" intro and plenty of room to develop the Holmes/Watson relationship down the road. With RG playing him, Lestrade is no longer the "little sallow, rat-faced, dark-eyed fellow" of Conan Doyle's "A Study in Scarlet," nor the traditional semi-clueless bumbler, but clearly a competent professional, if understandably out of his depth in this baffling case. (But then of course ALL the cases are likely to be "baffling," aren't they?) The little rumble of gravel in the voice was a nice choice, and I liked the quiet way this Lestrade relished his brief moment of dominance over Holmes during the Baker Street raid. Again, room for that relationship to develop...
Let's hope the level of verbal and visual invention can be sustained in the second episode, with another writer and director (episode three has McGuigan/Moffitt/Gatiss again).
I trust other RG fans will be able to catch "A Study in Pink," really good work all round.
Best wishes,
Nick D.

[Ross Eldridge]

Hallo there, Folks!

Rupert is reprising his role as Insp Lestrade in tonight's SHERLOCK (BBC-1, 9.00pm) ... So look in if you can, or chase it down on iPlayer or any way you can!

This series really has people talking, and rediscovering/discovering Sherlock Holmes. I'm loving the curious photography, sometimes the land and skyscapes are a tad surreal, and clues and thoughts float in the air for brief seconds. Lots of positive messages on Twitter. I'm hoping the three episodes will be released as a three-pack on DVD, would make brilliant gifts for fans. Of course, let's hope for more episodes in the future!

Is everyone having a good summer?

Cheers!

Ross

[nickd]

Hello, all.
Ross, you'll be glad to know that SHERLOCK is due for UK DVD release on August 30, all 3 episodes plus the unaired pilot (apparently a 60' version of Episode 1, "A Study in Pink"), commentary tracks for the 1st & 3rd episodes, and a "making of" feature. Plenty to keep fans happy!
Really a fantastically entertaining series, hope everyone gets a chance to see it. (U.S. viewers can see it this fall on PBS Masterpiece Mystery, DVD to follow.) In addition to all the thoroughly deserved praise for Gatiss and Moffitt, Cumberbatch, Freeman and the rest of the cast (including RG), I feel a lot of credit is due director Paul McGuigan, who did Episodes 1 & 3: really great eye for composition, visual rhythm, etc.,etc. Some sequences, like the planetarium scene in "The Great Game," were truly brilliant (Holst's "The Planets" will never sound the same again!).The middle story, "The Blind Banker," though still enjoyable seemed less distinctive (another writer and director were in charge).
Would love to hear other people's reactions to the series, especially fans who know the Holmes stories well (which I don't). By coincidence, here in New York PBS just showed the Jeremy Brett version of "The Bruce-Partington Affair," one of the stories that figures prominently in "The Great Game"...
I'll add my wishes for a happy rest-of-summer to all -
Nick D.