I’m a Robert Downey Jr. fan and a Sherlock Holmes fan, so of course the first movie I saw over the holidays was Sherlock Holmes. Though I loved the trailers–especially the scene with Robert Downey Jr. tied to bedposts–I still looked up reviews of the movies before we went. Not critics, but viewers. The majority loved it! I also read Tweets about the movie, and most everyone there loved it too. The dissenting reviews were that there were too many action scenes and not enough deduction. Knowing this, we went to see it anyway.
No spoilers in this blog, so if you haven’t seen it, it’s okay to read on. This is just my opinion–many other people who saw it wouldn’t agree. This isn’t even a review. I’m only blogging about the movie because it gave me a revelation that I connected to writing.
First, I enjoyed the characters. The actors did a great job. I enjoyed the dialog and their interactions. I think they had a good plot. But somewhere in the middle, I wondered when it was going to end. Several times afterward I wondered the same thing. As we were leaving, I felt disappointed, and my husband said it first: “It wasn’t that good.”
Exactly. It was “okay.” If I’d been watching it at home, I probably would have left halfway through and gone back to my computer or picked up a book.
It took awhile before I figured out what was wrong with it for me. I agree with the reviewers who would have liked more deduction instead of one action scene after another. But I’ve seen shows in which a lot of action scenes worked well. The reason this didn’t work well for me is that all the action scenes were BIG. These BIG action scenes, happening right after another, got old. The movie had a formulaic feel. I’m simplifying it and many won’t agree, but it was Quirky Character, Witty Dialog, BIG Action Scene, more Quirk, more Wit, another BIG action scene, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat and so on.
When the BIG moment came at the end, it didn’t feel big. It felt like just another action scene. I was never afraid for the characters, because in all the other big action scenes they never suffered consequences. Because of this, the ending wasn’t satisfying. Because of this, my husband said as we walked out that the movie wasn’t that good.
It’s the same way with writing. In my WIP, I have big moments along the way. But I also have consequences. My characters may say something witty (or more likely not), but they’re a bit more damaged–or a bit more healed. Something has changed. And though I’m about 15K words away from the big scene at the end, the black moment, I have something BIG planned. Much bigger than the other big scenes. This will be the ulitmate BIG change. Every time I think about it, I feel excited.
Nothing about the action scene at the end of the movie excited me. I even whispered a question to my husband during the scene, instead of being riveted to the action.
So what about you? Have you noticed this in books or movies? Have you felt let down at the end? Or can you think of a movie or book that’s done the BIG scene well?
Edie, I have often watched movies where I can see where things are going a mile off, and it completely ruins it for me. Give me surprises. And sometimes a whisper is more effective than a shout. On an historical loop I’m on, a lot of writers mentioned the costume and backdrop in Sherlock Holmes was very accurate, but the plot was lacking.
Michelle, good to know that my husband and I are not the only ones. I didn’t see what was coming with Holmes, it’s just that after a while I didn’t care.
I can’t recall the last movie that’s made me feel this way, probably because it was that forgettable. But I completely see what you’re saying, Edie. One big action sequence after another becomes stale. Whenever I go to movies, I tend to be a thinker. Not a person who wants a mindless watch or who has to set their expectations low to enjoy the experience. If that’s the case, then I’ll save my money and stay home.
I think one of the best lessons I’ve learned in writing is that a big OMG moment can happen with a sprinkle of dialogue or by just setting the scene. Moments like that are the ones that most people find memorable anyway. At least, I do.
And you know, maybe the “movie pimps” over-pimped this one. It seemed like everywhere I roamed, from web-surfing to channel-surfing, there was Robert Downey Jr. tied to a bed. When that occurs (the over-pimping, not the bed-chaining), it adds to expectation, at least for me, and then the ultimate let down.
That said, one of my favorite authors let me down in that respect. Not that his book was over-pimped; I just expected a lot and all I got was an overindulgence of “three-stooges” style scenes. I can only laugh so much, but when it becomes overkill, it just becomes OLD.
You know what “they” say: Too much spice ruins the…whatever. I’d rather add my own spice based on minimal action that lets my imagination fill in the blanks.
Marcia, I know what you mean. Jennifer Crusie does moments like that all the time.
I read Jayne Ann Krentz’s newest over the weekend, and she has a brilliant BIG scene, with layers and everything matters to the characters and changes things for them. But what stayed with me was the scene after, which I call the wrap up or the HEA scene. It was so poignant. It touched my emotions. That’s the real OMG moment.
Kath, I often see that for many movies, with trailers giving too much of the plot away, or raising false expectations. We saw the new George Clooney movie, Up In The Air, and the newer trailers give an expectation that it’s going to be a romance. It’s not. People who see the movie expecting that will be deeply disappointed.
Edie, I actually felt the same way about Sherlock. I’m a HUGE Robert Downey Jr. fan, so I saw this flick the day after Christmas. As I left, I told my husband it was…good. Just not great for me. I like the way you’ve applied the movie to writing–gives me good food for thought!
Cindy, you already do the big moments and the BIGGER one well. Something you do that the movie doesn’t is you build up to them with a lot of tension.
There are many layers in good books. There should be layers in good movies too.
I enjoyed the movie . . . though I understand what you mean. Maybe it was all the deductive flashbacks that slowed the pacing. I think some of them were needed, but too many and it got tiresome.
Margaret, the deductive flashbacks didn’t ring true to me. Maybe because deductions happen before an action scene, not during and not after. lol
Edie, I haven’t seen this movie but something you said totally clicked with me. “The movie had a formulaic feel.” That’s what I notice, the repetitiveness of certain projects. The last few movies I’ve watched, the ending has not been as full as it should be. When someone spends time entering a fiction world, they deserve that feeling one might get from eating a terrific meal. Satisfied.
LaDonna, I bet you’ll love “It’s Complicated,” with Meryl Streep. I did. My husband thought it was so-so. Too bad for him.
That has always been an argument with me. Writers seem to feel that the writing must be action, Action, ACTION! There has to be periods of rest in between. When you can catch your breath. I do not want to read a book to be exhausted at the end of it. I’m not talking a satisfied exhausted … but just exhausted because as a reader you’re trying to keep up with the action.
I still plan to see Sherlock Holmes … and perhaps I’ll see the same things you did. Or I’ll be completely clueless. We’ll see how well I get sucked in.
Liz, a book like you describe is probably a book I’d put down. I don’t finish a lot of books, and that’s one reason why.
Let me know how you like the movie.
As may have been said, Edie, sometimes they can give a movie too much build-up. Better if you aren’t sure what to expect.
Personally I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, not a great movie, but a solid good escapist film. I most recall the flashback/flashforward deductions (creatively handled) and LOVED the costumes and sets. Afterward I pondered aloud where it was filmed. My actor son said “On location. Victorian England.”
Yeah, could have been.
My favorite movies in 2009 were very different from each other…Up in the Air and District 9. Anyone seen either?
Edie, it didn’t grab me, either. It felt tiresome and predictable. I knew exactly where it was heading, generally, and there wasn’t really anything to hold my interest.
I think you’ve hit on it. I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t like it.
Deb, I didn’t see District 9. My husband thought Up in the Air was great. I came away from it depressed. We watched UP on DVD over the holidays, and we both loved it. I’d like to watch it again. And during the Thanksgiving holiday, we saw Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. Loved that!
Natasha, it was a disappointment because it could have been a great film. They went for flash over substance.
I really liked Sherlock Holmes. I will agree though that the plot wasn’t great. But the characters made it a great ride for me. I loved the chemistry between Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. I have to say it was better than between Robert Downey and Rachel McAdams. I generally like her but thought she was a really poor fit for the role. I tend to like character driven books and movies more so than plot driven ones so guess that’s why I liked it.
The movie with the most disappointing ending ever for me was Roman Holiday. And I’m the biggest Audrey Hepburn fan ever. Love before duty!
I’m sure there are plenty of other disappointing movie endings–like La Bamba because I had no clue who Ritchie Valens was until I saw the movie and when he was getting on the plane with Buddy Holly I was like NOOOOO Don’t get on a plane with Buddy Holly–but Roman Holiday is the one I always think of.
Great post Edie!
Beth, I did like the chemistry between the Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. It was so close to being a great movie.
I didn’t watch La Bamba. I knew what was going to happen in the end. lol Roman Holiday was a disappointing ending. The worst movie I saw was Martin Scorcese’s The Departed. I think it won tons of awards, so other people disagreed. But I hated the ending. It left me with no hope. I can’t stand endings like that.
My husband and I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, but I do agree with your assessment. We came into it expecting it to be almost more “Sherlock Holmes crammed into a Transformers mold” so pretty much anything was a pleasant surprise, and it shows how much excellent characters (I could listen to those two banter all day) matter.
But I definitely agree it over-topped itself. When you throw a ship at someone partway through the movie (no spoilers there, it’s in the trailers), it’s kind of hard to top that. If a story relies on a fair amount of action, I feel it’s better to have that sort of boiling pot effect where it builds and builds and builds and eventually blows the lid off.
At the same time though, and because I always enjoy playing the devil’s advocate, I would say this movie is definitely not evidence that a storyteller should hold back. I think that can be a problem in some fiction, where the author knows the big climactic scene or the horror of the black moment is SO big, SO amazing that they’re afraid to top it prematurely, so they hold back on everything. Trouble is, if I never get to that final scene because the stakes aren’t high enough, it’s all for naught. Better to use ideas as they come rather than save them… BUT keep it all feeling appropriate to the mood of the story. A quiet family saga doesn’t need an aerial dog fight at the end… complete withe explosions and slo-mo running.
Hayley, I agree with everything you say. I used to hold back, but I don’t any more. In my WIP, my earlier turning points are big–but the end one is bigger because there’s so much at stake. (Except I thought of something last night that makes it even bigger.
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I’ve written two women’s fiction mss., and, yes, the ending needs to be appropriate to the characters and the story.
Edie perfect timing for me! My current wip has a lot of action a la Alias/le femme Nikita for my heroine and a la Underworld for my hero. When they are together there is spontaneous combustion. As a panster I thought I had the last big scene planned in my head, but realized, comparatively it was wimpy to so many others. this morning I had the desperately needed light bulb moment. thank god. now, i can write toward it. i’m not sure who is going to survive, maybe the bad guy will get away for another book, but one thing is for sure, the pooh is going the fan and splatter everywhere!
I have definitely read books and seen movies where the ending was blah. I think the Lord of the Rings movies have done well the big scene well. I think those movies have a perfect balance of action and drama.
Karin, that’s great! I’m a pantser too, and it wasn’t until I was more than halfway through that I had an idea of my ending. But I’m not on a deadline like you are. You amaze me!
Jane, another one that did it right was the Star Trek movie last summer. The big scenes in Star Trek changed things, starting with the first one where Kirk’s father was killed.