Rating of
3/4
Old Folk 'Holmes'
Unknown - wrote on 07/27/15
'Mr. Holmes' presents a new version of the famous sleuth not yet seen. Ian McKellen plays an elderly Sherlock and also, in flashbacks, thirty years younger than that age. The movie focuses on his final years. He's been long retired and his memory is fading. He tries to recall his last ever case so that he can write what truly happened. In the process, he finds out the real reasons why he wanted to forget the ordeal. I won't tell anymore past that. His personal revelation involves grief and regret. The film's theme deals with the unsolvable mysteries of human nature. It connects the multiple time periods shown in a way that makes complete sense and ties them into one thoughtful statement. All of the slow build up focusing on the characters was worth it in the end. And yes, some of this comes about through Holmes's unique detective skills, which were great to see in use for the story at hand. This subdued take on everyone's favorite detective eventually became a warming experience. If you don't mind a slower drama with less emphasis on mystery, then it's a definite watch.
