Plenty of Stars And One Great Treat

Three films playing at The Moviehouse this weekend would seem to have little in common: an astringent commentary on corporate life during the economic meltdown; a romantic comedy for the empty-nest set, and a historical action flick with lots of flying fists. But though they vary in quality, they have one strong asset in common: some of the best actors working today, all at the top of their game.

"Sherlock Holmes" is carried by the intelligent dark eyes and sculpted torso of Robert Downey Jr., whose great detective is almost unrecognizable from the source material by Arthur Conan Doyle. No deerstalker hat for this Holmes, though he does chew thoughtfully on his pipe as he tries to unravel the dastardly plans of one Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). I’m not giving too much away by telling you that Blackwood is using arcane magic apparently stolen from the baddies in "The DaVinci Code" to achieve, yes, world domination. 

This Holmes is nearly feral, living in filth, and rarely leaving his room between cases except to pummel thugs in a boxing ring.  Jude Law, as Dr. Watson, and Rachel McAdams, as arch-criminal and sometime lover of Holmes, Irene Adler, do their best to keep up with Downey, but neither can match his spark and intensity. However, they do match him in the street-fighting department.

The relationship between Holmes and Watson brings the homoerotic subtext to the fore: the two have domestic squabbles like an old married couple, and Holmes’ efforts to foul up Watson’s relationship with almost-fiancée Mary Morston bring to mind those of another irascible fictional genius, Dr. House. 

As with any block-buster wannabe, there are lots of explosions, plenty of logic-defying stunts, and some impressive computer- enhanced scenes of a sooty 19th-century London. There’s also a heavy-handed setup for a sequel: if a Moriarty worthy of Downey can be found, this franchise could have legs.

"It’s Complicated," a sour and intermittently funny comedy, features Meryl Streep, excellent as always, as Jane, a responsible single mother in late middle age. Pretending not to be lonely, she is sustained by her restaurant business, and magazine-worthy house.  As in "Mamma Mia," Streep is presented with not just one suitor, but a menu of romantic options: her ex-husband Jake, played by a tubby and ebullient Alec Baldwin (now remarried to a much younger woman), and Adam (Steve Martin, barely registering), the architect adding an addition to her house. 

Writer-director Nancy Meyers touches on some interesting themes. Who hasn’t wondered whether life would have turned out differently had one stayed with a long-ago love? And there are some tender scenes between Jane and Jake as they get to know each other again. But they get lost in the movieland cliches. Why is it that a "good girl"  character can only decide to do something "bad," like have sex, when she’s drunk or high? And then needs her gaggle of wise-cracking girlfriends to help justify her daring decision?

The best of the three films, by far, is "Up in the Air," starring George Clooney as the sleek and self-contained Ryan Bingham, who spends his life traveling to downsizing corporations to fire people. The people he fires are played, movingly, by real victims of layoffs. His life fits perfectly into a carry-on rolling suitcase, and he needs or wants  no distractions. Ryan has two goals: to present his tony Robbins-esque motivational speech about how to shed emotional commitments at a major conference, and to amass an unthinkable ten million frequent-flyer miles.

Bingham’s cool is threatened by two women: Alex (the spectacular Vera Farmiga) and Natalie (Anna Kendrick, last seen as a teenager in "New Moon.")

Alex meets Bingham in a first-class lounge and soon whips out her wallet to compare airline perks and membership privileges. A no-strings attached affair soon follows. But when he brings her as his "plus-one" to his younger sister’s wedding, he begins to see the appeal of commitment and domesticity. Natalie, meanwhile, is an up-and-comer with a plan to replace Bingham with banks of technicians who would do the firing via teleconference, following a script.

The movie risks being as slick as its protagonist (everyone learns valuable lessons), but its ambiguous ending lingers and its compassion for the victims of recession is refreshing after the conspicuous and thoughtless wealth on display in "It’s Complicated."

It’s also the only movie of the three where all the actors, including Jason Bateman as Bingham’s soulless boss, are as memorable as the star, and the only one working on original and interesting ideas.

"Sherlock Holmes" and "It’s Complicated" will ring familiar bells —they’re comfort food.

But "Up in the Air" is gourmet cuisine.

"It’s Complicated" and "Sherlock Holmes" are playing at the Moviehouse in Millerton, NY. Both are playing at the Cinerom in Winsted with "Up in the Air." "Sherlock Holmes"and "Up in the Air" are playing at the Cinerom in Torrington.

"Sherlock Holmes" is rated PG-13 for violence, startling images and suggestive material; "Up in the Air" is rated R for language and sexual content; "It’s Complicated" is rated R as well for drug content and sexuality.