Movie Review: Mr. Holmes

I have to admit that I am a sucker for Sherlock Holmes, so when this movie came up on my prime account I had to watch it. I'm always late for movies, because of my caregiver status. I can't be away long enough to go to a movie.

But back to the film.

Ian McKellen plays Mr. Holmes, who is nearing the end of his life. He's battling dementia and trying desperately to remember his last case.

It is with the help of his housekeeper's (Laura Linney) young son Roger (Milo Parker) that he starts to unravel the last mystery.

The film starts out fairly slow. Do not watch it if you are tired, you may nod off, because there's very little action here. This isn't your Benedict Cumberbatch or Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock. Things go by more slowly here. Sherlock is in his 90s, he can't run around anymore, but Ian McKellen plays the roll with such grace. He's a curmudgeonly old man, but he also is something you seldom see with Sherlock, he's kind and he's actually human, and he's starting to face his failings.

But in this film, because its an elderly Sherlock, we see him with relationships. He truly does care about Roger, and you can feel his heartache over the deaths of all those he was close to. Watson and Mycroft are both dead. So he's pretty much all alone in the world. That's important as you'll see when things start to be revealed. The other thing that is important here are the bees and the death of bees.

What really made the movie was was the relationship between Roger and Mr. Holmes. Milo reminds me a little of Freddie Highmore back in his Finding Neverland days. Holmes is a fascinating grandfather figure to the boy.  One of the best scenes is nearing the end of the film when Roger asks Mr. Holmes to "do his thing" when his mother returns. The outcome isn't as expected, but McKellen proves he's as good a Sherlock as any.

This is a film that will break your heart at times but those that love Sherlock Holmes should find this film more than satisfying.

4 stars