[projekktor id=’19960′]
Ian McKellen is a revelation as the long-retired Sherlock Holmes in Mr. Holmes. The usually sharp detective is dealing with his hardest case yet, not that it’s particularly complicated in any way but that in his old age he finds it hard to remember details, which is the crux of his intellect. This look at the famous detective in his twilight years isn’t your typical Sherlock Holmes story. Beautifully shot with a killer cast and intriguing premise, Mr. Holmes is a heartbreaking look at ageing and outliving your wits.
Retired now for several years, Holmes lives a solitary life in the country with his house keeper (Laura Linney) and her young son, Roger (Milo Parker). The inquisitive young boy is intrigued by the ace detective and the lonely old man is welcoming of the companionship, much to the chagrin of Roger’s mother who fears Sherlock is a bad influence on the impressionable lad. With Roger’s help Sherlock tends to his apiary and revisits his final case, the one that forced his retirement.
Sherlock’s inability to recall the events of the case clearly infuriates him and he becomes obsessed with solving the case before he meets his maker. The film sports a melancholy tone as Sherlock remembers the mystery, one of a husband (Patrick Kennedy) who employs him to discover what his wife (Hattie Morahan) has been hiding from him. Jeffrey Hatcher’s script criss-crosses from Sherlock’s own fragmented memory to the texts on the case (from newly rediscovered clues to Dr. John Watson’s published account of the case) and Sherlock’s current life at his country cottage. One thing is for certain, the outcome of this case is what drove Sherlock into his current lackluster state and forced him to give up his career.
The film infuses the main character’s confusion into the narrative so subtly it might be missed. The pacing of the film is a little slow which is perfectly suited for the story it’s trying to tell. In truth, Mr. Holmes is more of a character study than a mystery movie. Director Bill Condon focuses on Holmes as an elderly man trying to find a place in a society that has outgrown him. Ian McKellen is delightful as Sherlock Holmes, he effortlessly captures the many intricacies of a character who is often presented as simply cold and fact-oriented. In the older version (90s) of the character he’s frail and feeble but retains his quick wit. While the younger version (70s) is more lively, self assured and near sighted (figuratively). Milo Parker delivers a break through performance as Roger. While Roger might seem like Sherlock’s new Watson, it is actually his mother, played by Linney, who acts as Sherlock’s conscience and reminds him that people aren’t just pawns in his great investigations. Laura Linney is one of my favourite actresses, and she doesn’t disappoint in the modest yet crucial role.
If you’re expecting something exciting, modern and flashy like the current television versions of the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character, you won’t get it in Mr. Holmes. What you will get is a delightful film that begs the question, what happens to our favourite characters when the movie’s over? A premise masterfully explored in Mr. Holmes.
Reviewed by Vithiya Murugadas.
