Sherlock Holmes 2 - Brad Pitt as Moriarty

[ManaByte]

So says Hollywood Reporter:

The studio is poised to bring on Kieran and Michele Mulroney, the scribes who are penning its Justice League: Mortal tentpole, to pen a draft of the new tale. Brad Pitt has had discussions with producers to star as Holmes' nemesis Moriarty in the new pic, say people familiar with the project, though there is no deal in place for him to take the part.

Holmes will be the movie of the year after Avatar disappoints.

[EvilBoris]

 so it's down to avatar and sherlock homes for you :/

 already planned sequel we'll see.. guy ritchie doesn't deserve any more chances.

[Phoenix Dark]

Holmes will bomb

[chronovore]

Holmes will bomb

Kung-fu Sherlock Holmes will bomb?! 

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Pretty sure you're right.

[close]

[Great Rumbler]

Can't wait to watch Wild Wild Holmes, oh boy!

[The Fake Shemp]

I really don't understand the hate for this flick. It looks entertaining.

It seems that people are upset that Holmes fights?!

[Akala]

Holmes was a master boxer in the stories. I think it's just the style of the fighting/tone in in the previews (and probably the movie) seems like a bad choice.

I'm still somewhat interested in this, not 'in theatres' interested, but bluray interested.

I also don't think it will bomb.

[The Fake Shemp]

He also knew bartitsu in the stories.

[Akala]

Wouldn't put it past him.

[The Fake Shemp]

Yeah, actually, rewatching the trailer, everything in there is consistent with his skills in boxing and martial arts.

The rest of the hate is directed against Guy Ritchie. When did he wrong everyone? The guy has never been a mainstream director, nor shat on someone's favorite property or anything.

He's made some mediocre movies and a couple of good ones.

We must hate him now?

... Wasn't banging Madonna enough punishment?

[Phoenix Dark]

I dunno if people are complaining about the combat as much as the hilariously bad/generic way its portrayed. Slo motion and stylization straight out of Wild Wild West/POTC, meh. Personally I thought the trailer was atrocious, and I rarely hate on trailers

[The Fake Shemp]

The fight choreography is nothing like Wild Wild West, all it shares is some steam punk art design. If people are going to hate on the set design from a trailer that's less than one minute because it's reminiscent of an awful movie, then that's pretty stupid.

Your other example is Pirates of the Caribbean, which was a technically great film (and the original was good times).

The only slow motion shots of combat is when Holmes is in a boxing ring, it looks like. That's cause for hatred? Someone throw out Rocky and every other boxing movie ever made!

... again, if you're going to hate on it, that makes no sense. The majority of it seems to be hate stemming from Guy Ritchie, which makes more sense, but I don't understand at all.

[Bloodwake]

I'm agreeing with Willco. I have somewhat enjoyed all the Ritchie films and I'm glad that this isn't another "heist" picture. The trailer was entertaining enough and I am definitely wanting to see the movie.

I really love how people are like "he acts nothing like Sherlock Holmes should act" which pretty much shows their ignorance of the character.

[Human Snorenado]

I think the hate stems from the fact that it's pretty much impossible to imagine Guy Ritchie doing a complex character like Holmes justice.  And I personally loved Lock Stock & Snatch for what they were, but be honest with yourselves here.  Sherlock Holmes and Guy Ritchie just don't automatically sound like two great tastes that go great together. 

Maybe I'll be wrong, but I doubt it.

[The Fake Shemp]

It could still be terrible. I'm not denying that.

And, yeah, Ritchie doesn't exactly instill me with confidence.

(I certainly don't hate him.)

... but the knee jerk reaction seems horribly incredulous. The trailer didn't look awful, and it certainly did not give any indication that the film will be awful. It looked entertaining. As for Ritchie being unable to handle such a complex character, I say leave that to Downey and the screenwriters. He isn't writing the film.

It could definitely go either way.

The problem, from what I can see (on Internet cesspools like AICN, CHUD, etc.), is that people have this unabashed hatred for Guy Ritchie in general (which I don't understand) and not for his weaknesses as a director. That, and an aversion to Sherlock Holmes using martial arts on screen, which is something he's always been skilled in.

[Robo]

I figured it was just because the trailer makes it look like 2 HOUNDS 2 BASKERVILLES.

[The Fake Shemp]

 

[CajoleJuice]

I figured it was just because the trailer makes it look like 2 HOUNDS 2 BASKERVILLES.

[Phoenix Dark]

I figured it was just because the trailer makes it look like 2 HOUNDS 2 BASKERVILLES.

In one sentence you said what I was trying to say better.

I've never seen a Ritchie film so I can't comment on him as a director. Sherlock Holmes and summer blockbuster just don't go together in my mind, and the trailer looks like that of any generic summer blockbuster. I think it'll fizzle

[The Fake Shemp]

He said something completely different.

Also, commenting on a Ritchie film without having seen any?

[ManaByte]

I dunno if people are complaining about the combat as much as the hilariously bad/generic way its portrayed. Slo motion and stylization straight out of Wild Wild West/POTC, meh. Personally I thought the trailer was atrocious, and I rarely hate on trailers

The slow motion is Holmes planning out how he will do the fight. The actual fight is lightning fast because Holmes is a master fighter.

[Bloodwake]

I figured it was just because the trailer makes it look like 2 HOUNDS 2 BASKERVILLES.

I've never seen a Ritchie film so I can't comment on him as a director.

PD film opinions FTW yet again.

[Phoenix Dark]

He said something completely different.

Also, commenting on a Ritchie film without having seen any?

I can't say the trailer is crap if I haven't seen a film of the director's?

[Human Snorenado]

I figured it was just because the trailer makes it look like 2 HOUNDS 2 BASKERVILLES.

RoboJ with the ether.

Federwang- I think that a lot of the trepidation amongst the nerd-throng on the 'tubes can be summed up thusly:  a good Holmes flick shouldn't be just "entertaining."  It should be intellectually stimulating, and you'd think a Holmes flick with Downey cast as Holmes would be a home run since he's such a great actor.  But then you find out that Guy Ritchie is the director and, for all of his ability to entertain me, I kind of doubt his ability to do "intellectually stimulating."

Personally, I hope that the fighting stuff is just a small part of the film and is just a way to get the great unwashed movie ticket buying herd into the theaters to see the movie... but with Ritchie at the helm, well, I reserve the right to say "I told you this was gonna suck."

[chronovore]

He also knew bartitsu in the stories.

Holy crap. So is that the thing RDJ was saying only the clueless among the fans would gripe about their vision of Holmes? That the one-time mention of baritsu/bartitsu in the exposition of how he dodged death is explanation enough for WING CHUNG HOLMES?

[The Fake Shemp]

Or the fact that he was also proficient in singlestick and is an expert swordsman. There's nothing in the trailer that's out of ordinary with the character.

Triumph brings up a fear that Ritchie will define the character by his physical abilities and not his intelligence, which is a far more reasonable concern, but ultimately unfounded at this time.

[Smooth Groove]

I'm a big Homes fan (both Sherlock and John) but this is probably ruined for me now.  I'm just not a big fan of Brad Pitt when he plays anything other than a pretty boy role.  Pitt just tries too hard. 

Btw, I'm not sure why Brad Pitt is considered such a big moviestar.  Pitt's name is constantly in the news but it doesn't seem like he has that many movies that have been huge hits.  And although Pitt's gotten a few Oscar nominations, few people really consider him to be one of the best actors of his generation.  Sure, he's handsome but he seems completely overrated as an actor that many people love to watch. 

[TakingBackSunday]

He was the best part of Burn After Reading, Benjamin Button, and the Oceans movies 

The guy's a class act, he's just not in many movies.  Does about on or two a year.

[Human Snorenado]

Pitt was also excellent in Inglourious Basterds, 12 Monkeys, True Romance, Fight Club, etc etc etc.  Really, the only time he's obnoxious is when he does romantic comedies- but then again ANYONE is obnoxious in a romcom, unless you have a vagina apparently.  Having a vagina allows you to appreciate a romcom, I guess.

[Phoenix Dark]

He was the best part of Burn After Reading, Benjamin Button, and the Oceans movies 

The guy's a class act, he's just not in many movies.  Does about on or two a year.

Does not compute

He slept walked through the movie, as did everyone else. I don't remember the last time I saw something so completely forgettable

[CajoleJuice]

He was the best part of Burn After Reading, Benjamin Button, and the Oceans movies 

The guy's a class act, he's just not in many movies.  Does about on or two a year.

Does not compute

He slept walked through the movie, as did everyone else. I don't remember the last time I saw something so completely forgettable

I agree with PD.

[EvilBoris]

well I think Pitt is an entertaining, sometimes fearless, comic actor. less charismatic/interesting/convincing in dramatic affairs. he was quite concentrated in jesse james though.  there wasn't a human character to really look into for benjamin but something in his chilly approach makes me interested in what's next. maybe.. all I know he certainly receives all the best, juiciest projects/scripts in hollywood. long time coming for for the tree of life

 however burn after reading is totally malkovich and jk simmon's piece. sorry. not really into the wacky routine.

 haven't seen basterds. doubt there is much in the celeb narcissism of Oceans though. 12 monkeys is an obvious favourite.



 

[Human Snorenado]

While I agree that Pitt does have access to plum roles, lots of other actors do as well and don't make choices as well as he does.

...which makes me think that maaaaaaaybe the Sherlock Holmes flicks won't suck too bad, despite the Ritchification.

[TakingBackSunday]

He was the best part of Burn After Reading, Benjamin Button, and the Oceans movies 

The guy's a class act, he's just not in many movies.  Does about on or two a year.

Does not compute

He slept walked through the movie, as did everyone else. I don't remember the last time I saw something so completely forgettable

Hey, remember, I was completely with you when that movie came out.  I'm just saying he was the best part of it, for me, and the only person who made that movie at all worthwhile 

[Phoenix Dark]

My mom LOVED that movie. Like, absolutely l o v e d it, saw it twice in the theater. Her friends liked it too, and even my dad liked it. I wonder if it's just a movie old people will automatically like

[Smooth Groove]

Even after taking another look at the sum of Brad Pitt's works, I'm still not convinced that Pitt is anything more than an average actor. 

Look at his role in Troy vs Crowe in Gladiator.  Both were shit movies but at least Crowe made his character someone that viewers cared about.   The whole time watching Troy, it just felt like watching Pitt play Achilles.  Not once did I feel like Pitt was Achilles. 

The last time I watched Pitt, which was in Burn After Reading, I was even less impressed.  Sure, he gave a good effort but that's also why that performance didn't work for me.  It was like he was trying so hard to prove that he can be a believable dork. 

Like I said before, Pitt's well suited for the handsome guy roles like the ones in Ocean's Thirteen or Fight Club but not so much for anything that requires subtlety.  I'll give him another chance when I watch Jesse James, since I heard he's really good in that.  I'm not sure what that would prove though, since that seems exactly like the type of cool guy role which I think fits him well.   

[Phoenix Dark]

Pitt is interesting playing an eccentric character like 12 Monkeys. Usually though he's just...there on the screen. I'll never forget that abortion of a performance at the end of Seven 

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

for what its worth, if SH2 is put into motion prior to the first film opening, it will be the third consecutive film that Guy Ritchie has done for Warner Bros. before his prior film was released.

Rock N Rolla was being made before Revolver came out (so terribly, utterly shit)
Sherlock Holmes was already filming before Rock N Rolla was released (much, much better)

and now the ball could be rolling on SH2 before the first one is even out.  I'm also guessing that any film with Brad Pitt and all the returning principals in it is also going to be on a substantially higher budget then any previous installment.

Guy Ritchie must have the best agent in the whole damn world.  Either that or he's operating some sort of high stakes cinematic Ponzi scheme, not unlike a more talented Uwe Boll*.




*although Revolver is easily worse then any Uwe Boll film.  Yes, really.