Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Sherlock Holmes 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 2, 2020

The list of actors who have essayed the role of Sherlock Holmes, according to some online data accruers the single most portrayed fictional character in the annals of history, is incredibly daunting. If younger viewers may understandably associate the role with the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and/or Jonny Lee Miller, somewhat more seasoned viewers might think of Jeremy Brett in terms of the small screen and Basil Rathbone in terms of Hollywood movie palaces of yore. It's part and parcel of the history of Sherlock Holmes, both as a character but perhaps just as saliently in this instance in terms of a character in a film, that Guy Ritchie sought to "modernize" things for his films about the redoubtable due of Holmes and Watson, albeit unlike either Elementary or Sherlock: Season One, but instead within an almost Steampunk ambience of a late 19th century England awash not just in the expected fog, but with what might be called an almost miasmatic occultism.

Sherlock Holmes was released on Blu-ray relatively early in the format in 2010. For those wanting a complete plot recap, I refer you to Ken Brown's Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray review of that original Blu-ray release. I will only add that this Sherlock Holmes rather smartly exploits what was actually a phenomenon in late 19th century England in particular, the rise of a certain class of occultism and occultists perhaps best personified by the likes of Aleister Crowley and/or organizations like the Golden Dawn. The production design side of both this entry and its sequel is really one of the standouts of the film as well, and helps to really nicely establish a feeling for time and place, however whimsically those aspects have been "tweaked" in support of some of the more fantastical elements at play in the plot.

Sherlock Holmes 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080p Blu-ray.

Sherlock Holmes is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Warner Brothers Home Entertainment with a 2160p transfer in 1.78:1. You'll note that I am a little less generous in my assessment of the original 1080 Blu-ray's visual presentation than Ken was, which may mean my score here is more of an upgrade than might initially be thought. This is a noticeably darker and I'd even say grittier accounting of the film's look, but I found it quite appealing, especially since fine detail levels in particular enjoy at times at least moderate improvement despite the darkness and sometimes rather heavy looking grain field. Fans of the film will know that it is a carnival of stylistic flourishes courtesy of Philippe Rousselot's cinematography, which was put through its paces in post, with a variety of techniques that are often quite variant. As such, some of this presentation can be dependent upon things like "baked in" (de)saturation, both pushed and under cranked contrast, as well as various CGI elements. What struck me in this 4K UHD presentation from the get go was the destaturated look of so much of the film, with a prevalence of sepia tones and other browns, so much so that when Rachel McAdams shows up wearing a bright purple dress some time into the film, it almost feels like the first real pop of color. Some think of HDR as sometimes "adding color", but what this presentation makes clear is that it can add some nuanced highlights even when the overall look of the film approaches almost monochromatic tendencies. The uptick in fine detail levels is noticeable across many elements in the production design, from the fabrics on many of the costumes, including some of the thick topcoats Watson in particular wears, as well as background textures in the many outdoor scenes, notably the dock sequences. CGI looks generally quite good, though some elements, like some backgrounds in the climax, can look just slightly soft. Grain can tend to look kind of splotchy at times, something that is especially noticeable against some of the brown backgrounds.

Sherlock Holmes 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 4K UHD disc contains the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix as was on the original 1080 Blu-ray release, but as I keep mentioning as almost a kind of mantra, different reviewerss can mean different opinions, and I am perhaps slightly more favorably inclined toward the audio on this release than Ken was. While some might have preferred a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X track given the prevalence of sound effects and even some sequences that exploit heights visually if not necessarily sonically, this track offers consistent surround activity and some at least occasionally very forceful LFE. Downey's voiceovers as Holmes are clear as a bell and even rather resonant at times, and dialogue scenes offer good directionality with regard to background ambient environmental effects in particular. Fidelity is fine throughout the presentation, nicely supporting dialogue, effects and score.

Sherlock Holmes 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

No supplements are offered on the 4K UHD disc, and the score above reflects that. The 1080 Blu-ray also included in this set features all of the supplements Ken details in his Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray review.

Sherlock Holmes 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Even when they miss their perceived bullseyes, Guy Ritchie's films typically have an excess of energy, and that element is certainly on display in Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps thankfully, then, Ritchie's hyperkinetic tendencies help support a rather smart screenplay which is brought to life by some winning performances and an especially effective production design. Robert Downey, Jr. may arguably not end up in the pantheon of truly great portrayals of Sherlock Holmes, but he's decidedly less mannered than, say, Matt Frewer while also bringing his own peculiar flavor to his characterization. Jude Law is a lot of fun as Watson (who's a kind of dandy), and Rachel McAdams' Irene Adler is also enjoyable, if not exactly Conan Doyle canon (so to speak). This 4K UHD presentation has some noticeable differences from the 1080 presentation, with a somewhat more burnished look that can emphasize the gritty side of the cinematography. Recommended.