Sherlock Homie

There's a story up today about Russell Crowe, 44, thinking about accepting a second-banana role as Dr. Watson in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, subordinate to star Robert Downey, Jr. If true, it simply means that Crowe has moved into that 40-plus phase in which a top-dog actor figures (a) "if I like the part, I like the part" and (b) "I don't have to be the big star every time out."

Jack Nicholson went through the same thing in the early '80s (when he was also in his mid 40s) when he took supporting roles in Reds and Terms of Endearment.

A few minutes ago I mistyped the title of the Ritchie film as Sherlock Homie -- and the instant I did that it hit me that this would be a much better vehicle for Richie and Warner Bros. than a Baker Street period piece with the hat and the pipe. We all know Ritchie isn't going to respect the trappings of the original Arthur Conan Doyle character, so why even go there? But a brilliant modern-day London detective with perhaps an old-fashioned sense of reserve and decorum going up against the malignant criminal animals who've appeared in previous Ritchie films? That I would pay to see! Especially with Downey.

I'm not talking about a comedy or satire but a simple conceptual updating. Today's under-25 mongrel moviegoing culture doesn't want to know from 19th Century London. They don't want to know about anything except eating popcorn, copping feels and scratching their balls during the trailers.

Making Sherlock Homie would also get Warner Bros. out of the duelling Sherlock Holmes movie situation it now finds itself in with Columbia, producer Judd Apatow, Sasha Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell.

I wrote Daily Mail columnst Baz Bamigboye whether he's heard about the Russell Crowe casting, and he replied as follows: "I have no clue. If I have any energy left I might pop into Guy Ritchie's film party later tonight and ask him."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 1, 2008 at 11:22 AM

comment #1

arturobandini2 Author Profile Page says ...

"I'm not talking about a comedy or satire but a simple conceptual updating."

It's already been done, and pretty damned well at that, but nobody went to see it. It was called ZERO EFFECT, and it was clearly based on one of Doyle's short stories (can't remember the title - anyone?), the one where Holmes falls in love for the only time.

Posted by arturobandini2 Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 12:04 PM

comment #2

roanokemaroon Author Profile Page says ...

You're thinking of Scandal In Bohemia. I can understand why the movie didn't get a big following but it's still disappointing that it's largely unknown.

Posted by roanokemaroon Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 12:16 PM

comment #3

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

Sherlock Homie should be one of the fake movie posters hanging in Tracy Morgan's "30 Rock" dressing room.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 12:20 PM

comment #4

d manhattan Author Profile Page says ...

Interesting observation about Russell Crowe. I think a few supporting roles now might fit him and his intensity very well, at least judging by the type of roles Jack Nicholson got during his "phase".

Posted by d manhattan Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 12:35 PM

comment #5

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

As much as I like Downey, I wish we were talking about Bettany as Holmes and Crowe as Watson. They're a great duo, and Bettany deserves one more chance at stardom.

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 12:36 PM

comment #6

televisiontears Author Profile Page says ...

If Crowe accepts this, or any supporting role, he gets major props from me. It shows he's not worried about A-lister status, and just craves a good script (or maybe just a chance to work with Downey).

Wells your generalization of "under-25 mongrels" is embarassing. Taste is not analagous to age. You should know that there's plenty of cinematic idiots to go around - in every age bracket.

I know that a black-and-white, us-and-them, simple-minded worldview works for you, and maybe helps you to be a little less confused and overwhelmed with the shades of grey that make life so interesting. But I urge you to consider the possibility that a Kansas Republican might be well-informed, or appreciate Dostoevsky. Or that an Obama supporter might have loved Disaster Movie, or had no idea who Joe Biden was until recently. Consider that labels and demographics maybe don't define who a person is. You might be a happier guy.

It's this line of thought that breeds things like "all Muslims are terrorists" or "that black guy's gonna steal my car", and I know you're too intelligent for that. So, why stop there?

Posted by televisiontears Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 12:42 PM

comment #7

televisiontears Author Profile Page says ...

*analogous* - talk about embarassing...

Posted by televisiontears Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 12:43 PM

comment #8

PastePotPete Author Profile Page says ...

Crowe has been doing these roles all along. Not so much supporting as co-lead. The Insider, Body of Lies, LA Confidential, 3:10 To Yuma, American Gangster.

Watson may in fact be the lead in this film. I don't know that for a fact, but the stories are all told from his perspective, and that has often been the tact taken in films. Centered Watson reflecting on his unbalanced yet brilliant partner.

Either way I think this is more of a lead or co-lead role than supporting.

Posted by PastePotPete Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 12:49 PM

comment #9

The Winchester Author Profile Page says ...

Bring on Crowe in Farrelly's 3 Stooges!

But I hope this rumor turns to be true, as I would like to see Crowe and Downey on the same screen. And Crowe working with a director that's not Ridley Scott again. (Even if it is Guy Ritchie)

Posted by The Winchester Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 1:24 PM

comment #10

MickTravis Author Profile Page says ...

Maybe, as with Layer Cake, we'll get lucky and Ritchie will pass this off to Matthew Vaughn.

I like Ritchie, but this material seems to have more in common with Vaughn's more restrained yet equally stylish approach.

Posted by MickTravis Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 1:25 PM

comment #11

Edward Author Profile Page says ...

Seconding PastePotPete on the role of Watson in the Holmes cannon. I was going to try and make a sarcastic comment about well-informed Kansas Republicans, but the soft spot in my heart for that part of the midwest restrained me (I went to college NW of KC, MO).

Posted by Edward Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 2:13 PM

comment #12

iamwhoiam Author Profile Page says ...

I hope it's true and Crowe will take this role. It would mean that he reached the point where he just want to enjoy making movies and work with interesting partners. Downey-Crowe partnership can be very refreshing and fun to watch. And i'm not sure that Ritchie won't respect Arthur Conan Doyle's original character. From everything he said so far, he's actually going to go back to very first Holmes from the very first books.
Anyway, since i'll watch any movie with RDJ and any movie with Crowe, i'm probably going to see this one twice...

Posted by iamwhoiam Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 2:30 PM

comment #13

broadstreetbully Author Profile Page says ...

After Jeremy Brett, anyone else even trying to perform as Sherlock Holmes should give up before starting. Possibly the greatest acting performance of all time.

Posted by broadstreetbully Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 3:27 PM

comment #14

NC Gary Author Profile Page says ...

This would be ironic sines Downey was clearly basing his TROPIC THUNDER character on Russell Crowe. Maybe Russell just wants a chance to pop him in the nose for making fun of him.

Posted by NC Gary Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 3:39 PM

comment #15

Pinko Punko Author Profile Page says ...

With Jeremy Brett it was almost like Holmes took over his entire personality. He owned the role in such an way that his performance alerted you to nuances in the writing that had been missed upon teenage page turning.

I'd like to see Crowe do three or four more Master and Commanders. That film was simply excellent.

Posted by Pinko Punko Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 9:24 PM

comment #16

moviemaniac2002 Author Profile Page says ...

With so many American roles in films and TV
now being performed by Brits and Aussies,
I'd love to see Downey matched up with
another USA actor doing Dr.W. (How about a
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" reunion with Val Kllmer?)
I still fondly remember Robert Duvall as the
good doc in "Seven Per Cent Solution".

Posted by moviemaniac2002 Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 9:35 PM

comment #17

Hallick Author Profile Page says ...

"After Jeremy Brett, anyone else even trying to perform as Sherlock Holmes should give up before starting. Possibly the greatest acting performance of all time."

Jeremy Brett found a way to make Holmes ice cold and BLAZING with genius at the same time. One of my favorite scenes in any movie or television series is the one between Holmes and detective Lestrade (in The Six Napoleons?) where Lestrade lets him know how much Scotland Yard actually does admire his work. Brett's beautiful in that scene.

There would have to be more to the Watson character than usual for Crowe to take the part. I think he'd make a better Holmes, save for the fact that he doesn't fit the bill physically. Actually, thinking on it, Downey would also be more interesting in the Watson role himself. Shucks.

Posted by Hallick Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 10:55 PM

comment #18

Hallick Author Profile Page says ...

"*analogous* - talk about embarassing..."

Not really. You could've written "analingus".

Posted by Hallick Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 10:58 PM

comment #19

Hallick Author Profile Page says ...

"I can understand why the movie didn't get a big following but it's still disappointing that it's largely unknown."

Zero Effect is one of a handful of movies I'll watch at least once or twice every year. And it's even more disappointing that Bill Pullman never got the work he earned the right to with that performance. Hell, I think I'm gonna watch the movie right now...

Posted by Hallick Author Profile Page at September 1, 2008 11:00 PM

comment #20

Pinko Punko Author Profile Page says ...

*analrapist*

analyst and therapist

Posted by Pinko Punko Author Profile Page at September 2, 2008 1:23 AM

comment #21

hatchling Author Profile Page says ...

Crowe isn't doing this film. He's just denied it, Ritchie has denied it. They haven't talked, they haven't negotiated,

The entire story in the Sun is UK tabloid BS.

Posted by hatchling Author Profile Page at September 2, 2008 5:19 AM

comment #22

AuggieBenDoggie Author Profile Page says ...

broadstreetbully says ...
"After Jeremy Brett, anyone else even trying to perform as Sherlock Holmes should give up before starting. Possibly the greatest acting performance of all time."

So true. I haven't been able to read the stories without picturing Brett as Holmes for the past twenty years. If any actor ever totally owned a part it was him with Holmes.

Posted by AuggieBenDoggie Author Profile Page at September 2, 2008 9:08 AM

comment #23

T. S. Idiot Author Profile Page says ...

Agree wholeheartedly with the praise for Brett above. His Holmes is one of the rare instances of effectively alternating between the British no-nonsense, we're-just-craftsman approach and the nervous twitches of the Method. Brett grasped that there was plenty of madness in Holmes' method.

Anyone have any idea why Brett's hairstyle constantly switched back and forth between slicked back and combed forward?

Posted by T. S. Idiot Author Profile Page at September 2, 2008 9:44 AM

comment #24

Cadavra Author Profile Page says ...

David Thewlis as Holmes and Timothy Spall as Watson!

Posted by Cadavra Author Profile Page at September 3, 2008 12:55 PM

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