War is brewing in Europe, but Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) is convinced an evil hand is guiding the conflict—particularly that of his arch nemesis Professor Moriarty (the wholly excellent Jared Harris, best known as Mad Men's Lane Pryce). Very nearly ruining the wedding of his cohort Dr. Watson (the equally excellent Jude Law), Holmes drags his unwilling pal to France, Germany, and finally Switzerland for a final deadly conflict at the edge of Reichenbach Falls. (Holmes' fans will perk up at the reference.) Ultimately however, the mystery itself becomes secondary to watching three great actors (four, if one counts Brit comedian Stephen Frye as Sherlock's "smarter" brother Mycroft—and you should) build their scenes like master carpenters working on a spiral staircase. Downey and Law's repartee crackles like a Victorian era Abbott and Costello, while Harris' Moriarty is calm, calculated evil personified.