O Xangô de Baker Street

When you have good writing, you don't need that much to have a good film. And this film has excellent writing. I'm talking about the dialog lines, they are perfect in how they evoke the despicable little bourgeois society of the imperial Rio de Janeiro, which actually mirrors the contemporary mentality of the Brazilian (and Portuguese!) people. Jô Soares is a good comedy writer, one who tackles grotesque society themes and contradictions, and remakes them into interesting cartoons.

He is not a true screenwriter, and his great experience (and quality) is as a television writer, which basically means he writes episodes, without a large form. But here the episodes he wrote in the novel work because he cleverly used a few story elements that binds everything together, and those elements are themselves funny in a layered way, meaning that if you know something about Holmes, Jack the Ripper, and Caipirinha, you will smile at the thing.

So absolutely everything is a joke. The "crimes" are a cartoon, the Stradivarius bit is social critic, the serial killer is funny, and Sherlock's endless and pointless deductions are as awkward and ridiculous as the very situations he investigates. If Holmes was already in its origin a cartoon of a certain ultra logic way to see the world, than this Holmes is the cartoon of a cartoon. Watson is what is supposed to be. The Ripper connection is intelligent, and his off voice narration completes the binding of every loose comedy episode. The killer literally writes the story, this is always a reliable device.

An important note is how the filmmakers invest the film with a sense of placement. Porto, Portugal, working as Rio's historical center in the XIXth century. There are overall clever locations, and one in particular; the bookshop, it's a great space. It is a real bookshop, located in the center of Porto. It has a great serpent stair, which could actually have been better used, but the space is invested with a romantic eclectic feel. It has a mystery appeal to it. Actually it might have been used as a model for some Harry Potter's sets (Rawling lived in Porto). I appreciated the choices.

My opinion: 4/5 watch this.

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Very good. Was very funny and cute. Too bad it was never released into the USA. Excellent work of fiction. I think a movie on just the monarchy would be nice too that included Pedro II with his wife and his daughter Isabel and their grandchildren. I am sure that it would succeed in every way possible since their positive feedback on the monarchy during today's time. Good luck and fantastic film. I hope that a film like that will come about in a grand way. Excellent performance by all of the character's . A 10 out of 10. I highly Recommend anyone who wants too watch a very funny movie too watch this. I am sure that it will make anyone laugh and leave a lasting impression of the film. The way it was created will be on one mind for a long time too come as you watch with laughter at a great detective who is called into action. His mission is too retrieve a valuable violin and too return it un harm. Will he succeeded? Watch and find out.

I do wish that the film will one day be released too the people of north America and elsewhere on DVD's and I hope too see this film in a blockbuster or any kind of film market.

I must confess that before buying Jô Soares' novel on which this film is based I knew him only as a first-rank humourist, mostly on tv. The novel was quite a revelation, even if at some points slightly herectic to this Absolute Sherlock Holmes fan and unofficial Baker Street Irregular (^-^)

But soon I was swept over in the tropical overwhelming style - and I must say much the same happened with this Brazil/Portugal co-production. I'm not trying to swing things my way, but Porto seemed altogheter more convincing than Rio as a XIXth century scenario for Holmes adventures. Joaquim de Almeida is competent as a Holmes set loose in near-tropicalia, but I have to give my highest kudos to Maria de Medeiros' impeccable play of Sarah Bernhardt! Do you know a greater challenge for an actress? All in All - An extremely entertaining film. And a great hope for closer contacts between Brasileiro & Português talento in the field of Cinema!

Who still doubts Brazilian cinema is in great shape? After great success such as "Behind the Sun", "Central Station" and "Four Days in September" here comes "O Xangô de Baker Street" (I'm not sure it's been released out Brazil and Portugal, has it?).

The movie is based on the novel written by Jô Soares, one of Brazilian best humorists. If you don't like comedies, don't worry. This is also a movie with action, mystery, romance and a surprising end. It's worth watching.

The cast is great. We just can't hold our laughs during the funny scenes and it's impossible to avoid take a deep breath as we watch the thrilling ones. really good direction and scenery.

My rate 9/10

I have read the book and liked it very much. I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes and I was very much amused by the book, O Xangô de Baker Street, written by Jô Soares, whom I am always pleased to hear and see on TV. I laughed a lot when I read the book. It's quite good. I also liked the film, but I must admit I prefer the book, though I always think it is silly to compare literature with cinema, because they are two different art forms. The one thing I can say is that I laughed more reading the book than I did watching the movie. I think the timing in the picture is not very good. The director/ editor almost always interrupted the joke with a cut. But still the film has lots of jokes and it is very funny. The image is beautiful as well as the sets, costumes and so on.

The actors are superb - all of them. Joaquim de Almeida and Maria de Medeiros are especially good in it. Another one I liked a lot was the one who played the murderer. When I read the book that was almost exactly as I pictured the murderer to be. Anyway I recommend the film to every one and give it 7 out of 10.