stage and screen and and television adaptation or feature use sir arthur conan doyle character turn on one simple and inescapable point represent do we believe the actor a holmes . if the answer be yes and then a bad story be still pretty good . if the answer be no and then whatever other attraction the story hold be worthless . the answer here be clearly yes represent rupert everett be very good a sherlock holmes . the transfer from print to screen be almost flawless . if anything and too much be make of holmes obvious flaw a a human be represent his recreational drug use and patronize arrogance and indifference to the feeling of others and preoccupation with the working of his own mind . this holmes remind me of dorian gray . it be only his love of solve crime that keep him from commit them . the story be pretty pedestrian . this isn not quite as bad a the butler do it and but it close . i would not spoil the movie a others here have by say more . i like the scene where holmes be reason out who the killer be . this be clever and unforeseen and and quite believable . but and from the time the chief suspect be identify and until he be finally catch . the entire climax of the movie and in other word . be . well and trite and clichéd and and elementary and my dear watson . kudos to helen mccrory and perdita week in support performance .