Sherlock Holmes

2009 / Warner Brothers

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Screenplay by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg

Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Kelly Reilly.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to see this film when I first heard about it. I’m a hard core Jeremy Brett fan and although I was raised on Rathbone, I have a hard time picturing anyone other than Brett in the role. Controversy and argument within the Sherlockian circles pushed me into the theatre however, as I had to see for myself what all the hoorah was about.

Much of the bellowing was over when the story takes place. Based on the Irene Adler character appearing in the film, it has to be 1888 or later. It is now simply a question of how long after 1888? Downey mentioned 1890 on Letterman and that seems reasonable as Reichenbach took place in May of 1891. I'll accept Mr. Downey’s pronouncement as so based on the fact that Holmes in this film, notes that current occurrences are happening in November and it is clear that he is on the scent of Moriarty by the time the film ends. It should also be noted that newspapers shown in certain scenes are dated 1890, which in itself ends all speculation. No doubt the next—which I am certain will appear sooner than later—will bring us to the fall at the Falls. As I recall, he tracked the rogues for months—not years—and December through May would comfortably fall within that time line.

I have to say that I was delighted with Mr. Downey's work. Not only did I immediately accept him as the character and forgot I was watching Downey, but I realized after I left the theatre that at one moment in the film, while discussing a recent turn of events, I heard Jeremy Brett speak a word of dialogue. So help me, Downey did a perfect impression of Jeremy's delivery, thereby tipping his hat to he whom I believe to be the master in the role, then smoothly reinstating his own characterization and making the character his own. I believe the torch has been well and properly passed.

Nevermore in Baltimore

Mark Redfield

on Producing Live Theatre
and the Edgar Allan Poe
Bicentennial Celebrations in Baltimore, MD

Interviewed by Jessie Lilley

When you have friends all over the globe, you aren’t always entirely up to speed on what their current projects are. In this case, my darling friend Mark Redfield has gotten himself entangled in a morass of Poe tendrils worthy of Cthulhu himself. In October of 2009, as I was watching CNN’s coverage of the Funeral of Edgar Allan Poe that was taking place in Baltimore 160 years after his actual death. I said to my husband that no doubt Redfield was somewhere in attendance. When he and I finally talked to each other just recently, I found out that he’d produced the damned thing!

Read The Interview...

Let Compassion Guide the Application of the Law
A Reasoned Plea for Medical Marijuana

by Lynda J. Williams

It’s compassionate and proper to exclude the smoking of medical marijuana from local, state, and federal non-smoking bans. But public debate shows that Americans are strongly divided on this issue. Some dismiss the “medical” in “medical marijuana” as a hoax, tricking us into grudging acceptance due to our natural compassion for the sick; others believe it’s a useful medical tool that has “been withheld from patients through regulations based on false claims”.

Repent, Roman!
A Modest Solution to the Polanski Problem

by Brad Linaweaver

Ever since the American economy was struck down by a hit and run driver on Wall Street late in 2008, the world has been holding its breath. What would happen next?

Well, the Republicans lost power and the Democrats gained power, and somehow the War on Terror marches on without stumbling. The Pentagon budget remains untouchable even though we owe China a trillion dollars. “It's Chinatown, Jake.”

The immediate struggle is about a shift in the economy over the possibility of National Health Care. Many people are out of jobs and people with jobs aren't spending big. Everyone's yelling at each other and stressing over the subject of how to get medicine to control stress. America needs more money from somewhere.

Things are so bad that Michael Moore has made another movie. Another damned Michael Moore movie!

So who should come to the rescue and take our minds off the problems of 2009? It's just about time for Rosemary's Baby to have grown up and be the right age to threaten the world, but hey, look! It's Roman Polanski with a legal case over three decades old. Unbelievable!

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Sherlock Holmes

2009 / Warner Brothers

Directed by Guy Ritchie Screenplay by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Kelly Reilly.

Nevermore in Baltimore

Mark Redfield

on Producing Live Theatre and the Edgar Allan Poe Bicentennial Celebrations in Baltimore, MD

Interviewed by Jessie Lilley

Let Compassion Guide the Application of the Law A Reasoned Plea for Medical Marijuana

by Lynda J. Williams

Repent, Roman! A Modest Solution to the Polanski Problem

by Brad Linaweaver

A Sampling of our Table of Contents:

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