Sherlock Holmes has received a resurgence in popularity in the last five years. We’ve had movies, television series, he’s brought into the modern age and we’ve even had a female Watson. As audiences, we’ve lapped up the greatest detective of all time, enjoying the annoying charming charmless know-it-all in any form we can get him.
Mr Holmes is the latest in cinematic portrayal of the great detective, and one that is a pleasure to view. For lack of a better description, it is how you’ve never envisaged Sherlock, and yet, oddly enough, how you suspect he would be in his golden years.
Sherlock (Ian McKellen – aka Magneto) is now an old man, Watson and Mrs Hudson are long dead and out of his life. He is left with a sense of losing himself, and trying to right a wrong that he’s felt from a time in his life long past.
Mr Holmes is a beautifully told tale, the director, Bill Condon (God and Monsters – great, Breaking Dawn – shite), has done a wonderful job, returning to his former non tragic teen vampire days. I wonder if he regrets that bleep in an otherwise very impressive resume?
Mr Holmes is a movie which has a great story, fantastic acting, beautiful costumes and simple discrete effects which are believable. It does not rely on any big explosions to tell you that something’s happened, it doesn’t have stupid dialogue which tell you the bleeding obvious. It does not have an overly dramatic score leading you down the garden path. It is a movie that simple is lovingly put together in a very clean and simple way.
Ian McKellen’s performance is flawless, this man will not cease to amaze with his range and talent. His portrayal of Holmes is raw, hauntingly human and humbling. With a support cast which consists of some very familiar Hollywood faces, and not so familiar British ones, Mr Holmes is a delightful surprise, mainly because it actually lived up to my expectations.
I had expected a beautiful movie, one that told a good story, one that was well put together, and Mr Holmes delivered.
Milo Parker, whose portrayal of the charming rambunctious Roger Munro, is a talent that was unexpected. Child actors rarely are this talented or engaging. I hate to say it, but he’s going to be an awkward looking teenager, but luckily, he’s got more skills at his age than many A-listers I do not care to list.
Laura Linney is almost unrecognisable as the dowdy housekeeper Mrs Munro. She’s a little lost, a little scared and quite strong in her own way. I feel that Mrs Munro had a depth of character which was not explored, as this story centred around Sherlock’s friendship with Roger.
Mr Holmes is the type of movie which shows you the story, but it also reveals a lot through its dialogue. You will find yourself hanging onto sentences like you wouldn’t in other movies, wondering what clues you have left out, what you’ve failed to deduce.
There are a few scenes which are up for debate, ones which you will reflect back on with your fellow movie goers. Did it really happen or was it made up? What was actually said?
If you speak Japanese, can you please tell us what was said in Japanese, there is only one scene within the movie where Japanese is spoken, and we, like Mr Holmes, are left out in the dark as to what was actually said.
If you get the chance to see this movie, go and see it. Bring your brain with you, and enjoy a tale that is wonderfully told. You will not regret it. You don’t have to be a genius, it’s not a pompous intellectual movie, just one where you are required to do more than think: “Meh… the explosion in the first Avengers movie is cooler.”
Rating: 9/10, I wish more movies like this would be made, where it’s more about the story and acting rather than some over the top fight scene and explosions.
See it again: Yes, if the chance arises I will. But if it doesn’t, I will wait for it to come out on DVD and watch it again with the subtitles.
Worth my time: Yes, Mr Holmes is definitely worth my time, and it will be worth yours as well. There is a sense of calm and excitement with this movie, I feel as though I want to paint, to create, to do something. If a 93 year old Sherlock Holmes is still living life, why the hell shouldn’t I be trying to make the most out of mine?
Take my mother: No, I don’t know why. I think my mother would thoroughly enjoy this movie, but perhaps it is best experienced with someone your own age, someone you’re comfortable talking about mortality with?
Talking points: What is real, what is fake? I may forever be in the dark, unless I get the chance to speak directly with the screenwriter. Fat chance there.
Annoyance factor: 2/10, Mrs Munro wasn’t developed enough as a character.
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