TV Review: Sherlock - "The Reichenbach Fall"

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman with Loo Brealey as Molly Hooper

Sherlock has become very famous thanks to his recent high profile cases. Moriarty has some truly nefarious plans in store for Sherlock. To achieve his ends, Moriarty deliberately gets arrested and Sherlock is called in as the main witness.  Moriarty gets acquitted thanks to some behind the screen shenanigans. Right after his acquittal, Moriarty pays Sherlock a visit at 221B and promises that he owes Sherlock a fall.

Mycroft had given a lot of information about Sherlock to Moriarty (when he was jailed) in order to gain some information in return. Using the said information, Moriarty has a reporter put the entire life story of Sherlock in print. The catch is that the story paints Sherlock as the man who perpetrated the crimes.

Sherlock works on an abduction case and figures out the location where the abducted kids are being kept. One of the abducted children seems to be highly alarmed by the presence of Sherlock. Sgt Donovan, never a big fan of Sherlock, raises the question: does Sherlock set up the cases that he alone solves time and again without any official help. In the very first episode A Study in Pink, Donovan had warned John to stay away from Sherlock. Credit is due to Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss for providing such a well thought-out character and story arc for the series.

Sherlock and Moriarty have a face-off

Meanwhile, a reluctant Lestrade has been ordered by his superior to have Sherlock arrested. But Sherlock has no intentions of being incarcerated. Soon Sherlock and John find themselves on the run from the official force, after resisting arrest. Sherlock arranges a meeting with Moriarty atop St Bart's Hospital. Moriarty has already hired sharpshooters to off Lestrade, John and Mrs Hudson unless Sherlock takes the fall which in this case is a literal leap to his death.

Sherlock takes the fall or so John and the rest of the world thinks. We have to wait for the next season for the answer(s).

The newcomer with a significant screen presence is Katherine Parkinson as Kitty Riley, the reporter. Cumberbatch and Freeman continue their solid work. Gatiss and Graves have considerable presence in this episode and as always are a pleasure to watch.

Loo Brealey makes a comeback as Molly Hooper and continues her work as the counterpart of Twilight's Bella Swan with Sherlock as her Edward. The pining on her behalf, the so close yet distant Sherlock. The parallel to the Twilight series is not insignificant, if you ask me!

Katherine Parkinson with Benedict Cumberbatch

Andrew Scott gives yet another over-the-top performance as Moriarty. The script writers have done an amazing job with the way Moriarty plans to discredit Sherlock, but it is the way Moriarty is portrayed that is a big letdown.

For canonically accurate portrayals of Moriarty, I would recommend SherlockHolmes: A Game of Shadows and The Mortal Fight. Both Jared Harris and Viktor Yevgrafov gave amazing performances that stayed loyal to their canonical roots.

My favorite parts in the episode:

1. The cameo by the great Douglas Wilmer as an elderly gent in the Diogenes Club. For the uninitiated, Wilmer played Sherlock Holmes in the classic 1964-65 BBC series with Nigel Stock as Dr Watson.

2. Moriarty’s story about Sir Boast-A-Lot - captured perfectly the excessively show-offish nature of this version of Sherlock Holmes.

Douglas Wilmer in "The Reichenbach Fall"

The stuff that did not really work for me:

1. Despite Sherlock and John being fugitives, they are able to visit the St Bart's hospital and 221 B Baker Street conveniently, without taking any precautions (to the best of my knowledge) whatsoever to avoid getting arrested. This seems quite improbable, considering that Scotland Yard must (logically) be keeping an eye on these 2 places to apprehend the fugitives.

2. Moriarty referring to the original story The Final Problem a gazillion times. Yes we get it; the episode is based on that particular story. 

Click here to read all my posts about BBC Sherlock. 

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Image Sources: Cumberbatchweb, Cumberbatchweb, The Sherlock Holmes Society of London and Cumberbatchweb 

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Movie Review: The Dictator (2012)

Sacha Baron Cohen in 'The Dictator'

The movie begins with an introduction to Admiral General Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) who rules the fictional country, Wadiya with an iron fist. Aladeen is a certifiable megalomaniac, who hosts his own version of the Olympic Games, Golden Globe awards and demands complete submission from his countrymen.

His plans to develop nuclear weapons soon incur the ire of the UN and Wadiya is threatened with military intervention. Aladeen decides to pay a visit to the UN headquarters.

Unbeknownst to him, his close ally Tamir (Ben Kingsley) has been plotting for quite a while to dispose of the much-hated dictator and bring democracy to his nation. The upcoming visit to the US proves to be a very tempting chance to finally achieve his goal and Tamir plan to replace Aladeen with a decoy.

The plan does not go as expected and Aladeen escapes with his life and finds himself penniless on the streets of NY and has also lost his infamous beard to boot!

As per his plans, Tamir performs the switch and plans to declare democracy at the UN summit. Aladeen is determined to regain his throne and ensure that democracy is not ushered in Wadiya.

Anna Faris with Sacha Baron Cohen in 'The Dictator'

Cohen is back with his frequent collaborator Larry Charles to deliver yet another exercise in absolute irreverence. Nothing is sacred or beyond reproach as far as this movie is concerned. Spoofing recent world events in addition to their usual targets (religious/national/cultural stereotypes), the movie also has scenes with humor of an extremely infantile nature. Private parts are on abundant display and even a romantic scene between the leads has some groan-inducing moments.

Jason Mantzoukas plays the character of Nadal, a former top scientist in Wadiya and has some excellent scenes with Cohen. The scenes where these two talented actors share the screen are easily the highlights of the movie and help the movie overcome the lazy script. The scene at a cafe in NY where Aladeen comes close to being lynched and comes up with made-up names (by reading the various instructions and signs posted inside the cafe) is a genuine piece of rib-tickling comedy without any gross/vulgar undertones.

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Anna Faris has been cast as Zoey, the requisite female lead and does her best with the role. Sir Ben Kingsley reminds us that even actors need to pay their bills.

In addition to Megan Fox, Ed Norton has a cameo as well.

Megan Fox and Cohen in 'The Dictator'

It is an out and out star vehicle for Cohen. He has a very unique brand of humor as evidenced in his previous movies, especially Borat. If this is your cup of tea, the movie is right up your alley. If that is not the case, the movie will disgust and amuse you in equal turns.

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Image Sources: Ain't It Cool News, Indiewire, Screenrant

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