Mr Holmes movie review
The famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is brought vividly to life by a superb Ian McKellen in Bill Condon's stirring new film.
Ian McKellen is brilliant as an ageing Sherlock Holmes in his latest movie. Picture: Ster-Kinekor.
Based on Mitch Cullin’s novel, Condon and screenwriter Jeffrey Hatcher have produced a slow-paced but beautifully textured study that not only celebrates the genius of the literary icon, but also honours McKellen’s deft acting. Mr Holmes introduces a wonderful new twist to the famous character. In 1947, an aging Holmes returns from a journey toJapan, where he searched for a rare plant with powerful restorative qualities.
Now living in his remote farmhouse on England’s Sussex coast, Holmes faces the end of his days by tending to his beloved bees, with only the company of his gruff, widowed, housekeeper (Laura Linney) and her bright and inquisitive young son, Roger (Milo Parker). Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes, 93, comes to rely upon 14-year-old Roger as he revisits the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement.
He also searches for answers to the mysteries of life and love – before it’s too late. Holmes hopes to reverse his memory loss by consuming royal honey from his own bees — as well as prickly ash, which may be another possible cure, he managed to procure during his mysterious trip to Japan.
Roger becomes hooked on the puzzle after sneaking a peek at Holmes’s incomplete manuscript of his last case, which he deduces must have ended disastrously. Using slowly unfolding flashbacks to 30 years ago, we observe the 63-year-old Sherlock following the depressed wife (Hattie Morahan) of a client who fears she has fallen under the influence ofa spiritualist (Frances de la Tour). Sherlock’s memory may be a little faulty, but he is still capable of executing some amazing deductive work when necessary.
The relationship between Holmes and Roger is one of the film’s highlights and young Parker complements the celebrated McKellen in every shared scene. Mr Holmes could be viewed as a companion piece to Condon’s 1998 film Gods and Monsters, in which McKellen plays the dying film director, James Whale, whose memories of directing Frankenstein are jogged after meeting a younger man he desires.
That film won Condon an Oscar for best adapted screenplay and netted McKellen an Oscar nomination. Mr Holmes will snare viewers with its leisurely pace, well-crafted dialogue and excellent acting.
