An aged Sherlock Holmes struggles to remember the details of
his final case as he battles dementia and befriends a young boy. DRAMA
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Mr. Holmes (2015)Directed by Bill Condon
Written by Jeffrey Hatcher Starring Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker, Hiroyuki Sanada, Hattie Morahan, Patrick Kennedy Based on the novel A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin |
Mr. Holmes is a film that will be adored by fans of Sherlock Holmes but most likely cast aside by others. It's a film that is more about the unseen horrors of senility rather than Sherlock Holmes. While it does feature a bit of Baker Street mystery, Mr. Holmes is, at its heart, a drama centered around the unfulfilled life of one lonely man.
Ian McKellen gave a powerhouse performance that will no doubt be placed alongside some of his best. He portrayed an older, withering Holmes that wants desperately to remember his last case but finds himself facing dementia, an enemy he cannot defeat. Laura Linney was not very believable as an Irish housekeeper and I often found her character as more of a hindrance. Holmes's relationship with young Roger (Milo Parker), however, was charming and provided some much-needed humanity to the character. My only problem with this film is the pace. Mr. Holmes does not do a very good job of keeping the audience interested, especially for those who are expecting to see a mystery. Most of the film revolves around Holmes and his beekeeping hobby. Having said that, the film is not bad and is an original and interesting story that gives a fitting end to a cultural icon. |