I think Robert Downey Jr. was miscast as Sherlock Holmes

[Prefect]

You'd think that a character who's a super genius hero, but also arrogant and difficult to deal with, would be right up Downey's alley.

But I just watched both of his Sherlock Holmes movies and came away underwhelmed by his performance.

He's not terrible, but he's not great either. I don't know if it's because his British accent comes off as inauthentic, or perhaps Cumberbatch was so perfect that Downey can't help but pale in comparison.

But for some reason I just found myself wishing another actor was playing that part.

I wanted to like Sherlock Holmes but couldn't. It should have been like True Detective but with tracking down Jack the Ripper or Seven. Instead, we got some weird swarmy sex symbol, smart ass, and fighter. I get that the IP for Sherlock Holmes is public domain but come on. As movies themselves, not bad but they aren't really Sherlock Holmes movies.

 

[Madmick]

I didn't understand why people were gushing over these movies when they came out.

 

[Fedorgasm]

I didn't understand why people were gushing over these movies when they came out.

It's a shame because they're almost good. I think if they'd cast a different lead, and then removed the silly parts where Sherlock turns into the equalizer and just kung fu's his way out of trouble, then you're left with a decent movie. Guy Ritchie is a capable director, but I suspect some idiot producer told him that it needed to be more of an action movie.

 

[Natural Order]

I find RDJ to be generally overrated as an actor. Solid is certain roles, but I don't find him dynamic or nuanced enough to do much outside of comic book movies. The same mechanic of acting is always in every role without much variation. He does have a pretty good comedic side which has been used to good effect in a few outings (ie Tropic Thunder)

I'll give him props for turning his life around and becoming one of the most famous and wealthiest actors on the planet though....dude was towing a thin line at one point and was high on most people's Dead Pool.

I haven't even thought about watching the Sherlock Holmes nonsense.

 

[Bacco]

I found the movies fun
Casting was'nt ideal, but worked for that specific style of movie

I would have been curious seen David Tennant cut down some of his gimmicks and try the role, i think could have worked so well as Sherlock
Daniel craig as Watson
They would even have matched to each others, Sherlock being taller but lean and Watson being more stocky

Ben Kingsley would have been a great Moriarty too, of course would have been lder than here, but with this style would have sold it

 

[Brofessor]

Even worse was when he was casted/played Dr. Dolittle. My god it was awful. Couldn't sit through that movie and left in the middle of it.

 

[Prime LeVan]

The best Sherlock Holmes was actually Hugh Laurie in House.

I don't know if people realize it is an adaption of Sherlock Holmes. I assumed most did?

 

[Prefect]

It's a shame because they're almost good. I think if they'd cast a different lead, and then removed the silly parts where Sherlock turns into the equalizer and just kung fu's his way out of trouble, then you're left with a decent movie. Guy Ritchie is a capable director, but I suspect some idiot producer told him that it needed to be more of an action movie.

It is about marketing. The reason why it was called a Sherlock Holmes movie is that that is probably worth $30 million in ticket sales and advertising. You tag on RDJ, that is probably worth another $30-40 million in ticket sales and probably raises the top end of what the movie can do ticketwise. Tagging Guy Ritchie to the project is probably a $30 million dollar bump. It is about tagging all these adders and not about making the best movie. If movies were about making the best movie possible, you would see a lot of stage actors leaving the stage more often for movie rolls. Hollywood has been all about trying to build a profitable movie. All the remakes and sequels in my opinion are about them trying to piggyback name recognition and advertising cost, which is understandable but unfortunate. Non-IP movies though often struggle.

 

[Fedorgasm]

The best Sherlock Holmes was actually Hugh Laurie in House.

I don't know if people realize it is an adaption of Sherlock Holmes. I assumed most did?

Yeah I loved all the little clues they had, like James Wilson having the same initials as John Watson. And in one episode Wilson actually used Irene Adler's name in a lie he was telling, and none of the younger doctors picked up on it because they clearly hadn't read Sherlock Holmes.

 

[Prime LeVan]

Yeah I loved all the little clues they had, like James Wilson having the same initials as John Watson. And in one episode Wilson actually used Irene Adler's name in a lie he was telling, and none of the younger doctors picked up on it because they clearly hadn't read Sherlock Holmes.

"Holmes"....House
Watson....Wilson
Morphine addiction....Vicodin addiction
Crime mystery.....medical mystery
Leg injuries (although in Sherlock Holmes it was Watson who had the injury)
Both very socially awkward and brilliant
The man who shot House was named Moriarty, after Sherlock Holmes's archenemy.
They both even had the 221B addresses

I never caught the Adler one. Good catch

 

[johnsmithjohnson]

You'd think that a character who's a super genius hero, but also arrogant and difficult to deal with, would be right up Downey's alley.

But I just watched both of his Sherlock Holmes movies and came away underwhelmed by his performance.

He's not terrible, but he's not great either. I don't know if it's because his British accent comes off as inauthentic, or perhaps Cumberbatch was so perfect that Downey can't help but pale in comparison.

But for some reason I just found myself wishing another actor was playing that part.

I've read a couple of the books. I do not know who Benedict Cumberbatch was supposed to be playing tbh.
Sherlock polite, has etiquette, very kind and charismatic. He's not a sociopath and is actually really smooth in groups and can manipulate people. Downey was way way closer to actual Sherlock. I like Benedict as an actor, maybe they covered books later in the series where he because a a super genius with a "mind palace" doing random drugs dor fun that have been studied who is a complete jackass.

Sherlock would have acted like Patrick Stewart in real life. Not some asshole. The Cocaine usage he did was when they had no idea the long term effects and he was like a coffee junkie/energy drink junkie on it at first who gradually experimented as he went. He a gentleman first and kind, social and smart.

 

[AGGAMEMNON66]

I liked the 1st film with Downey. I was actually surprised how well he did in the role. Guy Ritchie being the director was a nice addition too.. I don’t recall liking the follow ups but that 1st film was good.