FilmSnobReviews

Title: Mr. Holmes
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Bill Condon
Starring: Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

What It Is: The now retired Sherlock Holmes (McKellen) has moved on from his life of crime solving in Scotland Yard to a much more reserved life in which he is now an apiarist. With only his housekeeper (Linney) and her little son Roger (Parker), in whom Holmes finds a partner in crime of sorts. Roger loves to hear Sherlock’s stories, and one story, in particular, puzzles them both. It is this mystery that’s haunted Mr. Holmes. His last case, in his fleeting memories he cannot think of why he left the business and what the resolution was. In a race against time and his own mind, Holmes is trying to comes to terms with that case.

What We Think: Ian McKellen is fantastic in this. What a great performance from him. Besides featuring that great lead turn, Laura Linney shines as his housekeeper. Bill Condon really direct the hell out of this thing. There’s certain something you notice while watching this movie and that is how well both the main plot and it’s subplots are so subtlety written together. Just brilliant writing by Jeffrey Hatcher who crafts a unique twist on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s now iconic character.

Our Grade: A-, Crafting its beautiful world with good performances this is the type of movie that perfectly gets you out of a bad movie funk! A lot of the time I kept wondering when the film would pick up, yet I also stayed compelled by the film. That is the true mark of a film that’s grabbed you. It never lets you lull either. Without big action scenes are giant set pieces this film built on a small story stays so. It makes its mark with its characters. I’m going to recommend this one to you guys. If you can find it go see it! If you can’t then just wait a bit it’ll be on DVD and Blu-Ray soon!