User reviews

Ian McKellen plays Sherlock Holmes as a 60 yo and a 93 yo. Both are excellent as without layers of makeup he gets the physicality of both roles perfect.

This movie is all about Ian McKellen and his acting ability... and it is a masterclass. Laura Linney is fine in this very small cast, though I question whether she was right for the role. Too upright and groomed for a middle aged war widow. Not her fault, but she was meant to be the foil for the son who is bright and full of potential and she is offering to bring him to Portsmouth to follow in her footsteps.

Beautifully shot, lots of external shots and small cast show off the small budget But the acting is superb. Definitely bound to be a favourite in the boutique cinema.

Greetings again from the darkness. Be honest … would you be excited to see a film if it were described as follows: "A grumpy 93 year old man struggles with his failing mind and deteriorating body as he tends to his beehives during retirement in a small coastal town". Chances are that synopsis would cause you to skip on to whatever else is showing at the theatre. However, a single revelation would likely change your mind … the elderly man is actually legendary detective Sherlock Holmes.

Ian McKellen stars and holds little back as he portrays the elderly Holmes trying to reconcile the past, the present and his failing health. And yes, there is one last case to solve … only it's the last case he actually solved 35 years earlier. Sadly, Holmes can't recall how that case ended, and the fictionalized version written by his friend John Watson offers no resolution.

We first see Holmes as he returns from an international trip – a trip that seems a bit out of place with the rest of the movie; at least until it circles back near the end of the film. In fact, we get quite a bit of back and forth between the present and past, and McKellen pulls off both the elder and much younger Holmes … though his performance as the faltering, frail one-time genius is Oscar caliber.

Laura Linney plays his housekeeper, but it's her son Roger (Milo Parker) who jells with Holmes and re-kindles that twinkle in the eye. The scenes with Roger and Holmes provide poignancy and humor, and also the dose of reality so necessary to a film focusing on a living legend.

Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Gods and Monsters) directs the film, which is based on the novel "A Slight Trick of the Mind" by Mitch Cullin, and pretty quickly pulls the rug out from under us on the iconic deerstalker cap and the ever-present pipe. Still, only the staunchest, least-flexible fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's character will be turned off by this mostly gentle and insightful look at aging – and a reminder that even fictional geniuses grow old.

Baker Street makes an appearance, as does the charred and blackened Hiroshima site, and a blurry Dr. Watson. Don't expect the frantic pace of Robert Downey, Jr or the elegant precision of Basil Rathbone and Benedict Cumberbatch. Instead, enjoy the subtle moments, the wry smiles and the valiant attempt to bring a mortal end to the seemingly immortal Great Detective … with a few clues tossed in for good fun.

A nicely understated film, which has all the twists of a Holmes story that you might expect, wrapped up in a warm hearted kitchen sink drama about an aged detective, and the relationship between him, his housekeeper and her son. All linked in with bee keeping. The story has a number of strands, but they are all interwoven seamlessly, so you don't become so engrossed about one that you forget the others.

As a standalone film, one of the great charms of Mr. Holmes is that it can be viewed with equal level of enjoyment by two different types of people: the type who know nothing other than the basics regarding the character of Sherlock Holmes, and equally the people who have seen or read everything about him. It manages to appeal to both camps by being both a revisionist version of his stories, yet still keeping in the same spirit and not denying any of the prior literature.

Due to the fact that the film's metronome is a 93-year-old man losing his memory, the pace is unfortunately slow for the first half of the film. Having multiple flashbacks that omit information until necessary keeps the viewer guessing but also at times frustrated. In the meantime, the real entertainer is Sir Ian McKellen, who is not nearly as old as his character is in real life and yet captures the nuances of someone that age to precision, all while forming his own character of the titular Holmes. It's one I hope can make its way into the Oscar conversation yet is so much simpler I won't count on it.

The second half of the film picks up in pace as the 3 story lines all begin to start solving themselves, but more importantly Mr. Holmes (I don't think his first name is ever uttered in this movie) starts to realize a moral that he never quite came to terms with in all of his sleuthing regarding the truth and humanity. I've seen a solid handful of the countless Sherlock Holmes incarnations (he is the most commonly portrayed character in cinema) and there is something that becomes almost tragic about each one as you realize he is someone whose intelligence and wit makes him unable to live normally amongst other 'ordinary' people. As some subtext, it is perhaps a nice touch that Mr. McKellen is a proud member of the LGBT community, as there is reason to believe (although rarely outwardly said) that Sherlock Holmes may be gay himself. These are details you don't need to watch the story but can help enhance the nuance.

In terms of filmmaking, director Bill Condon and co. don't particularly do anything to motivate the situation other that just let the characters take care of business. Again, this is not a movie notable for having a quick pace, but it is never dull altogether either. The next movie I'll be watching is Gods and Monsters, the previous Condon/McKellen collaboration.

As you can see from how much I've written, I'm fond of the movie, enjoyed the numerous elements, and was left with a lot to think about. It's a small scale film and should be viewed as such, but is nonetheless enjoyable and is a nice spin on the iconic character.

I genuinely had no idea what to expect from this film as I knew so little about it. OK, so it has Sherlock Holmes as the lead character and I naturally assumed that it would be some crime solving caper. Boy was I wrong, but pleasantly so. The premise of the film is simple - what happens to the famous Sherlock Holmes in his twilight years, if he were to suffer from senility... and no it's not a comedy nor is it a depressing film. It's an evenly-paced, gentle, well-written character study of a fiercely intelligent man trying to hold on to the use of his brilliant mind to recount the details of his final case. If I could use one word to describe this film - contemplative. It's a series of vignettes, each with its own little mystery, all seemingly unconnected at first, until it gradually all comes together. Ian McKellen is, as always, fantastic and perfectly cast in the titular role but the most intriguing character is the subject of Holmes' final case, wonderfully portrayed by Hattie Morahan as Ann Kelmot. Also love the moody soundtrack by Carter Burwell. Very good film, thoughtful with striking images of the British countryside.

This film is no Sherlock Holmes mystery story. Rather it's a depiction of what Holmes would be like as an old man. A big part of it is Holmes trying to remember and regretting his last case in which he failed to comfort a woman considering suicide. Holmes is also world famous because in this universe, the Holmes stories were written by Watson as accounts of his cases. The film is interesting as a depiction of an old Sherlock Holmes and his problems but can be kind of boring as not much happens throughout the story, the direction is in a slow style, and it drags on for a while. You would like it more if you like deep, emotional dramas rather than exciting adventure movies. The musical score, like the rest of the movie is slow and sentimental. The characters besides Holmes like Mrs. Munro ,Roger, Tamiki Umazaki and Ann Kelmot are pretty well acted, but what I really liked about it were the costumes and production design, which were totally amazing to look at.

When I first heard that Ian McKellen landed the role of Sherlock Holmes in a film about the end of the great detective's life, I knew he would be perfect for the part, and indeed, he was. "Mr. Holmes" (2015), based on a novel by Mitch Cullin called "A Slight Trick of the Mind", is a delightful film, full of humor and sadness as Mr. Holmes revisits his last case, and finds his memory isn't quite what it used to be. He has retired to his cottage by the sea and taken up his well known hobby of beekeeping or apiculture. With him are his housekeeper, Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney) and her son, Roger (Milo Parker), a precocious young boy. The on screen dynamic between these three is astonishing. More is conveyed in one glance than could be said in lines of dialog.

The sets were detailed with precision, the scenery was vibrant and gorgeous (except one scene which was perfectly moody and dark), and the cinematography was stunning. The score was perfectly understated and captured the sentiment of the scenes with finesse.

"Mr. Holmes" is a very different kind of Sherlock Holmes story. It is sentimental without being saccharine and I believe it is a fair representation of the greatest detective in fictional history. The movie is set to be released in Great Britain on June 19 and in the U.S. on July 17. I recommend it highly.

In the late 1940s, Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) is in his 90s. He has just returned from a trip to Japan and is settling in his beautiful farmhouse on the southern England coast where he maintains a bee colony enthusiastically. His only companions are his housekeeper (Laura Linney) with whom he has a cordial but cold connection; and her young son Roger (Milo Parker) with whom he bonds quite amicably.

Based on the novel "A Slight Trick of the Mind" by Mitch Cullin, the story is much different from what one would expect in a Holmes film. It does include a mystery story but it is briefly told in flashback. In addition to another flashback story (the recent trip to Japan ), the focus is more on Holmes' deteriorating health including a fading memory of a once brilliant mind.

Director Bill Condon also worked with McKellen in the superb "Gods and Monsters" (1998) in which McKellen gave a brilliant performance. While the role in "Mr. Holmes" is much less dramatic, the collaboration works well again as McKellen is very convincing as a former champion having to adjust to more modest circumstances while occasionally showing that his astute and observant mind still works well on occasion.

Overall, there is a beautiful mood of melancholy in the film which matches its lovely setting. Other themes include regret, guilt, and loss - both past and impending. While it does not have the thrills of a suspenseful murder mystery, it is still a pleasant and enjoyable film. - dbamateurcritic.

The IMDb ratings are often useful, but the ratings on this one are way off.

This is a gentle film that shows old world kindness, perfectly drawn character, beautiful photography and a ripping good story. Watch it, and if you do not like it get help.

Inasmuch as I contribute to IMDb, it makes sense that I also rely on it.

So prior to buying a ticket I checked the IMDb reviews. They were universally positive. They were also astonishingly short-sighted.

First, this is not truly a Holmes tale in any sense of the word. I have read all the original stories (back when reading was fashionable) -- some more than once -- and seen almost every screen/TV adaptation to the present.

My faves are Basil Rathbone, the Moffatt series (each more an elaborate stage play than a TV show) and the bizarre but hypnotic US re-imagining with Lucy Liu as history's most photogenic Watson.

Which if nothing else shows how flexible the Holmes tale is.

Or at least was.

Here they pushed the Holmes myth further than any writer ever has and in my view, they broke it.

This is not Holmes vs. a killer, this is Holmes vs. Old Age. (Arguably the most potent killer of all time, but still not proper fodder for a detective story.) Yes yes, the acting is wonderful (Linney is under-rated, in fact) and the scenery is wonderful .... yada yada yada.

All this not only ignores the "false expectations" that are raised in the premise but also overlooks how depressing this is to anyone of advanced years.

Which then creates the paradox. Only a moviegoer of advanced years would want to take the time see Ian McKellen in this role -- younger viewers are lining up for Ant-Man and MI -- and yet this target audience is also the most likely to leave the theatre looking for the nearest bridge on which to practice their hi-diving skills.

You have been warned.

No spoilers, I promise The first thing that struck me about this movie was how different it is to other adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. It is very far from Robert Downey Jr's interpretation, which I thought was very good. It is so similar to Conan Doyle's books (even with Watson's romanticised twists on things) that I would advise fans of the BBC's Sherlock to steer clear, as it is a very different Holmes to the one they love.

I would recommend this for a 10+ age group, as anyone younger may not understand the complex messages that are being conveyed - they also might find two scenes in particular too frightening.

Ian McKellen is an outstanding actor, and this performance shows it. He is engaging throughout the entire run time and provides us with some very touching moments that leave us thinking long and hard. The story is very intriguing, and the ending very satisfying, even if it is a little heart-breaking.

I conclusion, I suggest you go and see this film if you are a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

SIR IAN MCKELLEN is Sherlock Holmes! It should be a crowning role in the great theatrical knight's career: awards and honours ahoy. Alas, it has not quite worked out like that.

Mr Holmes is a surprisingly dreary and unexciting portrait of the legendary detective in his twilight years as he struggles to reconcile himself to his fading powers and a half-remembered final case which prompted his early retirement.

Based on the novel A Slight Trick of The Mind by Mitch Collins, there is nothing wrong with the central premise. How would Sherlock Holmes spend his retirement? It's an intriguing question. One assumes bowling and bingo would be out. So too solving the mystery of the neighbours missing cat.

As it turns out the last mystery Holmes has to unlock concerns the human heart. As he confronts his own mortality the great rational mind must face up to the complex swirl of human emotions: love, loneliness, fear.

Alas, these valid themes fail to be animated with any zip, panache or, ironically, emotion due to a dry, slow-moving story and a portrait of Holmes that robs the great man of his allure and mystique.

This is not McKellen's fault: playing Holmes as a 93-year-old and, in flashbacks, a man 30 years younger he is commanding and regal with a sly wit. The problem is a dull screenplay that fails to make a virtue of cutting Holmes down to size.

Directed by Bill Condon, who collaborated more successfully with McKellen in the Oscar nominated Gods and Monsters, the picture looks fine with some lovely Sussex landscapes and it's always a pleasure to watch McKellen. The problem is the story. Elementary, really.

I love Sherlock Holmes and was very excited for this film. Obviously I wasn't expecting a thrill ride or it to be the best incarnation of the character(s) but I expected at least a 'Holmes' fix.

All I needed to like this film was a plot that had some intrigue - which was there albeit I feel they could've done more with the plot to spice things up.

The character of Sherlock Holmes as an old, frail man to be apparent and portrayed well - This is where the film fails in my opinion. I speak not of Ian McKellan's performance but of the writers for making this possibly the least Holmes' like Holmes' I've seen represented on screen. The few moments where the character of Sherlock shone through served as a reminder that this was a Sherlock story but they were few and far between - (Of course his genius should have only appeared few and far between however I refer to his personality not his mental capacity) the character and personality of Sherlock should always be apparent.

One of the things that makes Sherlock stories so great is the character himself and his contrast of being a vibrant and active person whilst also being cold, calculating and quite dark in instances. Now I realise the point of this movie is to show an ageing Sherlock who's time has passed and health both mentally and physically is failing. I just feel that this was more of a portrayal of a generic ageing detective who was more Holmes' like than actually Sherlock Holmes.

To Conclude the film isn't bad but a Sherlock Holmes story it doesn't make. (In my opinion)

This BBC film has an aged Sherlock Holmes, in failing health, living in retirement in the country, and trying to remember his last case.

Shakespearian thespian and British Knight, Sir Ian McKellen, plays well, and convincingly, the eponymous detective, both in his later years, and in flashbacks to his last case. The veteran actor had to prepare for the role by learning bee-keeping.

Mr. Holmes lives with a house-keeper and her son. New Yorker Laura Linney plays the house-keeper, fitting in well with the British thespians, and easily, and believably, conveys the circumstances of her character's situation as she interacts with both Mr. Holmes and her son.

The son is played by Milo Parker. His performance is just so breathtakingly superb that it is difficult to sum this up in words. Truly astonishing! Truly great!

Hattie Morahan shows great emotion in her small role, whilst Frances de la Tour's foreigner-role is so brief, but so good! There is a foreign element to the plot, apart from Miss de la Tour that is, that seems superfluous, however it turns out to be a nice sub-plot. The period-detail throughout the film is very good. Sadly, the film is marred by bad lighting and also blurry camera shots as the camera moves. This detracts, and distracts, but not greatly.

Despite it's UK rating of PG, this is not a film for children, but rather is more suitable for adults. There are moving and poignant scenes, and the film deals with matters of life and death. It is also necessarily slow, as the subject matter is the great detective in the Autumn of his years. 8/10.

"I've decided to write the story down on paper as it was, not as John made it." Sherlock Holmes (McKellen) is retired and trying to deal with early dementia. He has finally decided to set his record straight and write down the real story of his final case. While trying to remember everything he befriends the son of his housekeeper (Linney) who wants him to work again. Holmes tries to balance his past life with his present. This is a difficult movie to review. McKellen is the perfect choice for this and the movie is worth watching for the acting alone. On the other hand this is a pretty slow moving movie where not much really occurs. I'm not saying that is a bad thing because I thought this was decent, but the movie never really seemed to contain a plot. I would compare this to Albert Nobbs. Great acting but nothing really happens. This is not a movie for everyone, do not expect any Sherlock you have ever seen before. Overall, a great character piece and worth watching for McKellen if nothing else. Oscar worthy performance. I give this a B-.

Since Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch donned the deerstalker hat in very separate and modern adaptations, there's been a resurgence of interest in Sherlock Holmes this decade. Mr. Holmes may be hitting what feels like a trend, but it subverts it enough to be interesting. Now we have a retired Holmes in his last years as he criticises the fictional depictions of himself. It manages to bypass something I find tricky about the Holmes concept - which is how arbitrary each case can be - by focusing on only the most important one. However, it has such a slight and friendly approach to this that it can't be as potent as it could be. Instead, it's better in its ideas than its execution. With Bill Condon's affable direction, Holmes' penchant for detail doesn't have enough weight.

Nevertheless, it was wise for Condon to drop his workman chores, such as helming the Twilight franchise a couple years ago, and go back to the elegance working with Ian McKellen offers him. The trio of performances in Mr. Holmes is its greatest delight. McKellen himself brings a sensitivity and wit to Holmes that's thoroughly welcome, while Laura Linney makes the best use of her character who could have otherwise simply blended into the background. Meanwhile, this is the year of great kid actor performances along with Abraham Attah and Jacob Tremblay as Milo Parker deserves a similar level of acclaim. He doesn't have to reach their heights, but he serves the film with wise skill. Paired with a great production, including Carter Burwell's score, Mr. Holmes may fall short of the peaks it could have traversed, but it's still a pleasant stroll.

7/10

While Robert Downey Jr is absent from the iconic role of the World's Greatest Detective on the big screen, legendary British actor Ian Mckellan steps in those shoes. From achieving international success and critical acclaim from playing franchise-favourite roles like Erik Lensherr/Magneto (X-Men) and Gandalf (Lord of the Rings Trilogy/The Hobbit Trilogy), Mckellan has just about what fans or moviegoers might expect from taking on the role of Sherlock Holmes. Mckellan fits the role brilliantly, but if one was expecting a crime thriller they may be disappointed. The story takes off with an elderly Holmes, age 93, as he lives under a roof of a countryside house and cared for by a housekeeper and her intriguing son. The point is: Holmes is old and unable to come out of retirement to solve one last crime, as fans may have hoped for; but he suffers from memory loss as he tries to recall a recent case he was working on several years prior. This is followed by flashbacks from that case, which may give fans a bit of comfort, but the real attraction is the performance of Mckellan and his relationship with the boy, which develops a situation of importance to the story. In comparison to other recent adaptations of the World's Greatest Detective like BBC's Sherlock, Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and the 2009 movie Sherlock Holmes and its 2011 sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, both starring Robert Downey Jr, Mr Holmes probably isn't the crime thriller most were hoping for, but shines a bit of light with great performances and a heart-warming story.

I waited patiently to see Mr Holmes, and the result was well worth the wait, an absolutely wonderful character study, I believed the scenario, the relationships, performances etc, it was superbly put together. It felt like closure to all the various Sherlock Holmes series, like Poirot's Curtain in a way. Sublimely acted by all concerned, Sir Ian McKellan is proving he is without a shadow of a doubt one of the very best actors on this planet, he was absolutely amazing. I also thought Laura Linney and Hattie Morahan were also brilliant, but the performance from young Milo Parker was exceptional, I thought he was great. The locations were perfectly fitting to the tone of the film. I loved it, thought it even better on the second viewing, would be nice to see another title with him. 10/10

You can see my full review for the New York Times if you like, but in the end this should have been way better.

I don't think it could decide what it wanted to be. Thriller? Drama? Comedy? Romance? In the end it was none of them really, just a collection of scenes that loosely connected. But with the people involved, it could have been so much more.

Let's get to the point, Mr. Holmes is a huge cinema achievement with such ambition and its so good to see Sir Ian McKellen steal the show in his fantastic pitch-perfect portrayal of the world's greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes. Sir Ian McKellen played the role so perfectly, to me, he reaches the same level as the greats like Basil Rathbone and Benedict Cumberbatch and he should be getting an Oscar buzz for this brilliant performance. Yes, I really think its that good.

The characters also had deep and complex personalities and they were all well developed that you get to care about them and think about them often throughout the story. There is also a tone of drama, emotion and humour that also really works altogether for the film, the other actors did a great job too and for those reasons, this is one film to buy a ticket for a seat to sit down with your popcorn, drink and snacks and watch with interest.

This is a film that will please Sherlock Holmes fans everywhere, as it did me.

People are inclined to forget that Holmes & Watson were only in their twenties when they first met in 'A Study in Scarlet. Nearly twenty years after depicting another distinguished gentleman in his twilight years in 'Gods & Monsters', Ian MacKellen & Bill Condon were reunited to continue the story of Sherlock Holmes - now 93 years old and still keeping bees - in a 'contemporary' setting now as long ago as the original stories in 'The Strand', when Conan Doyle himself would by then have been dead for 17 years.)

For once the story is told from the point of view of Holmes himself rather than Watson, and the actual mystery he recalls is less interesting than the present-day calamity involving bees he brings his deductive reasoning to in the present day. When Holmes finally deigns to see himself represented on the big screen it's not Basil Rathbone he sees (as it would almost certainly have been in 1947), but a pastiche called 'The Lady in Grey', featuring Frances Barber as a notably venomous dragon lady (or - in this particular telling - queen bee).

What an awesome twist to a classic character. Very low burning to start and gradually boils to a blistering finale. I bet NOBODY sees the twist and if they do they are probably being untruthful. Brilliantly acted by the cast, including young Milo,who should become a regular screen presence( Let's hope he doesn't end up in a franchise mess).Beautifully filmed with little or possibly no over the top CGI,this should satisfy any serious movie fan. The use of close-up and panoramic camera work takes us right into the story and each character tells there own story to us. There were moments when I thought the plot was thinning but during the last 15 minutes all became clear.This movie shows us that any decisions we make can come back to haunt us but also that we may be over guilt-tripping ourselves.Storytelling at it's British best. This could not be made anywhere else in the world.At a time when the cinemas are full of so called "Blockbusters" this is a step to the side and proves that true art can be achieved without a clever computer programme.