MR. HOLMES review

(Reviewed by Melody Werner)

Mr. Holmes is a 2015 drama/tragedy and adaptation of A Slight Trick of the Mind, a 2005 novel written by Mitch Cullins. Directed by Bill Condon and starring Ian McKellen as an elderly Sherlock Holmes as he attempts to remember what happened during his final case so he can set things straight. It also features Laura Linney as his housekeeper and was produced by BBC. The film provides a unique premise with a very slow pace.

The musical score of Mr. Holmes is simple but has a neat melancholic tone which fits the rest of the film. The sets and wardrobes are all slick and look nice. It's a very polished film with very little glaring in the department whatsoever. I'm no expert of cinematography, but it never really got in the way for me as it can for other films like the awful The Great Gatsby (2013).

The narrative of the film is a bit nuanced. While it's a slow burner, when it begins to pick up it becomes a compelling mystery and the set-up makes the complex story work. By the end my eyes were glued to the screen, but I found a lot of the earlier scenes less spellbinding. I was content to let the film keep playing as I went into the kitchen or go for a round of Plants vs. Zombies: Heroes on my phone, which I think speaks to how expendable it feels for most of its run-time. It can drag but I don't think that it kills the experience because it's a good movie at the end of the day. So the pacing's iced, but being that it's a frame story, how are some of the inner cogs? Well, I think that at first the bulk will seem dull, but as the film progressed it grew on me until I was loving it. The Japan side-story is alright but the weakest between the mystery and present day segments. It has some strong moments and adds to the other parts but still feels like filler for the most part. The film's an emotional roller coaster, and the conclusion is mesmerizing and exceptional. It definitely leaves off muuuuch better than it starts and I'm still buzzing after finishing it due to just how much I liked it. It can feel drenched in hopelessness and that may be a turn-off, but I was engrossed by it. As a writer myself, I found myself ooing and aaing over a lot of the developments, so I definitely recommend those in entertainment see this. And anyone who wants something different with their movies.

The acting is brilliant and oozes greatness from all of the major performances. I know it's not often we see a wonderful child actor but the one in Holmes is legitimately excellent. They're given a lot to work with in their characters, who are all both refreshingly complex and relatable. The dialogue is also pretty solid with a mix of flowery words and layman's speak, so if something like "melancholic" throws you for a loop, the movie isn't too eggheaded in that regard. Not as much as it could've been.

Mr. Holmes is a delightful, tense thriller. It's not full of big explosions or Gun Kata, it's much more methodical. If that's up your alley, I recommend checking it out. I quite enjoyed it, even if it can be a crawl. Again, really happy I'm getting back into movies recently, thanks to stuff like this. Mr. Holmes gets an 8.5/10.

Great

Summary:

A bit slow and feels bland at times, but this new take on Sherlock Holmes is interesting, compelling, and quite the roller coaster. Excelling in its deep narrative, wonderful acting, fascinating characters, solid dialogue, and great polish, if you're in the mood for some deliberate, slow, tense drama, this is a great film to try.

(originally posted: 3/12/2017)