2014 has been a busy year for the cast of Sherlock!
From blockbusters to independent films, gripping television series to treading the boards of London’s theatres, the actors have done it all. (Not to mention three knockout episodes of a certain detective show on BBC One back in January.)
Read on to discover this year’s Top 10 projects from the 221B gang…
5. The Stag
Andrew Scott stars in this independent Irish film as Davin, the melancholy and lovelorn best friend of Fionnan (Hugh O’Connor) and his fiancé Ruth (Amy Huberman). The Stag is the story of Davin’s quest to get Fionnan out on a stag do, helped (and hindered) by their friends and by Ruth’s uber-macho big brother ‘The Machine’.
The Machine is everything that Davin and his friends are not, and hilarity ensues as they clash repeatedly during a drama-filled weekend in the Irish countryside. Ever wanted to see Jim Moriarty shrieking as he runs starkers through a forest in the middle of the night? The Stag is the closest you’ll get to that.
The film has a strong emotional core too, courtesy of Scott’s Davin’s unrequited love for Ruth, and there is some beautiful cinematography too. Erm. In terms of the countryside shots, of course…
> Buy The Stag on DVD on Amazon.
4. Fargo
Based upon the 1996 film of the same name, Fargo featured Martin Freeman as a harried insurance salesman with an impressive American accent, and was met with critical acclaim.
It was showered with Emmy nominations and won the categories for ‘Outstanding Miniseries’ and ‘Outstanding Directing’, whilst Freeman himself was nominated as ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie’.
> Buy Fargo Season 1 on DVD on Amazon.
3. The Imitation Game
The most recent of Benedict Cumberbatch’s film offerings is The Imitation Game, a thrilling look at the life of Alan Turing, the British computer scientist famously remembered as the man who broke the Nazi’s Enigma code.
Turing’s work was fundamental in tipping the balance of World War Two in favour of the Allies, and Cumberbatch has been praised highly for his subtle and sensitive portrayal. The Imitation Game won ‘The People’s Choice Award for Best Film’ at the Toronto International Film Festival this year – and the people are never wrong.
Intelligent, moving and rousing, The Imitation Game is definitely worth a watch.
> Pre-order The Imitation Game on DVD on Amazon.
2. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The final instalment of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy arrives in cinemas in December. The Battle of the Five Armies is hugely anticipated as the conclusion of the tale of Martin Freeman’s Bilbo Baggins as he faces a number of deadly dangers including the wrath of the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch).
Jackson’s cinematic versions of Tolkien’s stories have been massively popular since The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring back in 2001, and with London playing host to the world premiere of The Battle of the Five Armies next week, excitement levels for this film couldn’t be higher.
> Pre-order The Battle of the Five Armies on Blu-ray on Amazon.
1. Pride
Topping the list is the gloriously heart-warming Pride. An independent British film based on true events, Pride tells the story of a group of gay activists from London who forged an alliance with a downtrodden mining community in Wales during the strikes of 1984.
The friendship between LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) and their Welsh friends is as touching as it is funny, and Pride is packed with moments which will make you laugh out loud in one scene only to swallow an enormous lump in your throat in the next.
With its impossibly catchy soundtrack of 80’s hits and an ensemble cast featuring the likes of Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Andrew Scott and Imelda Staunton, Pride is not to be missed. Roll on the awards season – if any film deserves recognition and success, it’s this one.
> Pre-order Pride on DVD on Amazon.
What was your favourite project from the Sherlock cast this year? Let us know below…