'Mr. Holmes' A Review

Mr. Holmes is a mystery drama about a 93 year old Sherlock Holmes coming to grips with his final case, old age, and failing memory. The year is 1947 and the long-retired Holmes(Ian McKellen) has just returned from Hiroshima after procuring prickly ash a supposed curative for senility. Holmes struggles with recalling the failings of his last case but with the help of Roger(Milo Parker), his housekeeper's son, is able to piece together and come to grips with his past.

McKellen's portrayal of Holmes is much more vulnerable than we have ever seen the character. Not concerned with intellectual tricks, pontification, or solving cases McKellen's plays Holmes degraded, unsure, battling that thing that was out of his reach his entire career- empathy. Although not necessarily exciting the film has an unobrtrusive grace and the journey through the quiet mystery at its heart is more used as a function for Holmes to make sense of his life in his twilight years.

Subdued, contemplative, and engaging but not quite profound enough to warrant its reserve.

Rent It.