Harry Bradbeer
18 connections found
Filmography
View:
Connections, in both directions
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
Directed by Barry Levinson
influenced Enola Holmes (2020)
Characters Visuals Plot
If “Enola Holmes” also reminds you at several points, especially in the action scenes, of the work of Steven Spielberg, you may recall that he executive produced the 1985 hit “Young Sherlock Holmes.”
From Robert Downey Jr.’s successful franchise to the BBC adaptation with Benedict Cumberbatch to 1985’s mystery-adventure film Young Sherlock Holmes , modern audiences always want more from the world’s most famous detective.
Adapting the first book from 2006, The Case of the Missing Marquess , prolific screenwriter Jack Thorne ( His Dark Materials , Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ) essentially combines Guy Ritchie’s stylised Sherlock Holmes movies with Young Sherlock Holmes (1985), replacing darkness and edginess with fun and feminism.
Written by Jack Thorne (“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”) and based on Nancy Springer's young-adult books, “Enola” borrows certain aspects from the recent Robert Downey Jr. “Sherlock Holmes” movies and TV’s popular modern-day “Sherlock” with Benedict Cumberbatch, but thankfully it’s not a female-friendly reboot of 1985's “Young Sherlock Holmes.”
For fans of the Holmes character, his countless screen incarnations have also included "Young Sherlock Holmes" and Gene Wilder's comedic "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother."
Sherlock: Case of Evil (2002)
Directed by Graham Theakston
influenced Enola Holmes (2020)
Characters
Their argument: Henry Cavill's Sherlock showing emotion — or respecting women even — in the film Enola Holmes is a character trait he only developed in Doyle's later stories, which are not in the public domain and thus still fall under copyright law.
On the other hand, Brown (who could pass for “Sherlock” star Benedict Cumberbatch’s sister) brings some of the awkwardness we traditionally associate with the iconic detective to her role: Enola was never indoctrinated by her mother in the ways of polite society, and as such, she’s meant to represent female intellect in its natural, unrepressed state.
And this one imagines the consequences of Sherlock and Mycroft having an estranged teenage sister, Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), who’s ahead of her time when it comes to the fairer sex’s treatment in Victorian England…
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Directed by Guy Ritchie
influenced Enola Holmes (2020), Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
Visuals Characters Themes
Enola Holmes is not a carbon copy of Guy Ritchie’s big screen Sherlock Holmes films, but it boasts the same pithy, modernized light step.
Based on the series of novels of the same name by Nancy Springer, Enola Holmes puts the spotlight on Sherlock Holmes' little sister, a young woman every bit as clever and daring as the famous detective.
(Perhaps not coincidentally, Bradbeer also directed every episode of famous fourth-wall-breaker Fleabag but the pilot) There’s jaunty animation and judicious use of old-timey dust and scratches on the “film,” and it sets it apart from most of the visually blah Netflix movies, while never feeling like it’s trying to ape the approach Guy Ritchie took with his frenetic cuts in his Sherlock Holmes .
As Enola descends into the tawdry world of music halls, the duplicitous nature of London’s upper echelons, and the dangers of powerful men, this film feels better suited to be compared to Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes franchise than the first in this inevitable trilogy.
“Enola Homes 2” thrives while focusing on the main character's mental prowess and not silly diversions like a quirky romance with Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Patridge - fine) and the occasional brawl that pales when you remember Guy Ritchie’s hyper-sensatized “Sherlock Holmes” installments.
Despite making room for such bombast, “Enola Holmes” remains tamer and more tasteful in its high-energy storytelling than Guy Ritchie’s recent “Sherlock Holmes” movies, and considerably more fun than last year’s “Nancy Drew” reboot.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: It’s Nancy Drew meets Sense and Sensibility meets Suffragette .
Onboard, she has a fun meet-cute with fellow semi-fugitive Lord Tewksbury (Louis Partridge, Paddington 2 ) and the first of several terrifying encounters with the henchman (an especially intimidating Burn Gorman) who’s out to kill the young nobleman.
Reliable British excellence is the foundation of the film: Fleabag director Bradbeer uses his comedy experience to bring out the best Waller-Bridge facial expressions in Bobby Brown, Daniel Pemberton produces a score full of personality and joy, Fiona Shaw and Burn Gorman are once again typecast as entertaining villains, and the train chase and bumbling Inspector Lestrade (Adeel Akhtar) are reminiscent of Paddington 2.
Lord Tewksbury (Louis Partridge; Paddington 2 ) not wanting to follow in the family's footsteps, leaves, and hides out on the train in the cabin Enola happens to be occupying.
When it’s not the vocal few who seemingly hate women in their universes (gag me) torpedoing a perfectly fine movie like 2016’s Ghostbusters, then it’s those wanting a particular kind of female representation bemoaning not getting original characters, à la the conversation around Ocean’s 8. It’s a no-win situation unless everyone chills out and lets people have their fun, which is hopefully the spirit people bring to Enola Holmes.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: It’s Nancy Drew meets Sense and Sensibility meets Suffragette .
And frankly, it makes the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes movies and Kenneth Branagh’s oddly popular Murder on the Orient Express reboot look even more like the snoozefests they are.
Take, for instance, Henry Cavill setting “strict boundaries” for his friendship with Enola Holmes' leading lady, Millie Bobby Brown (also starring alongside the previously discussed Bonham Carter).
Factor in the Consolata Boyle’s (The Queen) elaborate costumes and Michael Carlin’s (Colette) transporting production design and Enola Holmes becomes a visual treat.
There is a lively and jaunty score provided by Daniel Pemberton (who incidentally provided the scores for Ritchie’s Man From UNCLE and King Arthur films).
I think this means Enola is officially a (deep sigh) franchise, but that’s not necessarily unwelcome; these are perfectly delightful family films reinforcing the renewed popular interest in classically styled mysteries, a la Rian Johnson’s Knives Out films and Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie adaptations.
Her talent has graced other beautiful films such as Victoria and Abdul , Florence Foster Jenkins, and The Iron Lady.
Living in a time where Hollywood executives have to mine the literary vaults to repurpose existing and iconic properties (looking at you “Robin Hood”) to turn a quick buck, I found myself enjoying the liberties taken with “Enola Holmes” despite the overabundance of “Sherlock Holmes” stories that exist in the medium.
Her talent has graced other beautiful films such as Victoria and Abdul , Florence Foster Jenkins, and The Iron Lady.
There is a lively and jaunty score provided by Daniel Pemberton (who incidentally provided the scores for Ritchie’s Man From UNCLE and King Arthur films).
Hell or High Water (2016)
Directed by David Mackenzie
influenced Enola Holmes 2 (2022), Enola Holmes (2020)
London through the eyes of cinematographer Giles Nuttgens (“Colette,” “Hell or High Water”) is an imposing, crowded cesspool of chaos, a sharp contrast from the lush colors and warm sunshine of the countryside.
With the help of his likewise returning director of photography Giles Nuttgens (“Hell or High Water”) and other talented collaborators, Bradbeer (“Killing Eve,” “Fleabag”) pulls us right back into this vision of long-ago London and makes us want to stay for a spot of tea and a good yarn.
Carter, their on-screen mother, rounds out the family as the whimsical, free-spirited Eudoria, a role that feels completely natural for her, especially after her performance as an early British activist trained in jiu-jitsu in the 2015 film "Suffragette."
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: It’s Nancy Drew meets Sense and Sensibility meets Suffragette .