Film Review: "Mr. Holmes" (2015).

"After a lifetime of detective work, there's one mystery left to solve: his own" in Mr. Holmes. This mystery film directed by Bill Condon, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, and based on Mitch Cullin's 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind. Long-retired and near the end of his life, Sherlock Holmes grapples with an unreliable memory and must rely on his housekeeper's son as he revisits the still-unsolved case that led to his retirement.

In early September 2013, it was announced that Cullin's book would receive the cinematic treatment with Condon to direct, Hatcher to pen the adaptation, and Ian McKellen in the title role. In preparation for the role, McKellen didn't research the Sherlock Holmes stories. McKellen claimed that he learned his lesson the hard way, making The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-3), that it was nothing more than a distraction, knowing the source material, and constantly questioning what changes were made for the script. Moreover, McKellen observed that it was easy for him to imagine Sherlock Holmes as a real person, since the majority of this movie is set during his own lifetime, and he could have met Sherlock as a boy in 1947, just like Roger. In addition, McKellen took a course in beekeeping with The London Honey Company prior to filming. He was not stung during filming. By early 2014, Laura Linney, Milo Parker, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Roger Allam rounded out the film's cast. Linney was initially hesitant about accepting her role, as she had just given birth to her son Bennett. However, when she learned that Condon was going to direct, she changed her mind and travelled to England with her infant. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and took place in London, Kent, Hertfordshire, and Sussex, England, as well as Shizuoka, Japan. In late August, it was revealed that Nicholas Rowe, who portrayed Holmes in the 1985 film Young Sherlock Holmes, would have a cameo role in the film. He portrays Holmes in a sequence spoofing the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films.

The film stars McKellen, Linney, Parker, Sanada, Allam, and Rowe. While Condon may not quite have captured an accurate Holmes, he and his cast have brought a memorable version of the legend to life. The film clearly belongs to McKellen, whose presence is what makes the film as affecting at it is. Condon's indie is narrowly focused in depicting Holme's personal and professional frustrations as an old man, but McKellen gives an astonishingly sophisticated performance.

Mr. Holmes is a spellbinding, confusing piece of semi-fiction, featuring fine performances; McKellen leads the way, but Redgrave and Fraser don't lag far behind. The idea to center on Holmes as an old man is good and original with the execution is rather strong and Codon's direction is personal. If these story elements seem typical of Conan Doyle, there is also a lot in this movie that can be traced directly to the work of Condon. It is not a deep or powerful film, but it is a good-hearted one.

Simon says Mr. Holmes receives:

Also, see my review for The Fifth Estate.