Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Stan, and in the UK on HBO Max Amazon Channel and Sky Go. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Robert Downey Jr. Anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows keeps coming up in conversation. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. There is a new criminal mastermind at large (Professor Moriarty) and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil and lack of conscience may give him an advantage over the detective. Robert Downey Jr. And Jude Law lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows came out in 2011. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows passes that test consistently. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows delivers. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Robert Downey Jr. Anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.