Mr. Holmes An aged, retired Sherlock Holmes looks back on his life, and grapples with an unsolved case involving a beautiful woman. Director: Bill Condon Writers: Mitch Cullin, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jeffrey Hatcher Stars: Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Hiroyuki Sanada, Milo Parker

But there wasn't a single moment of the film that I wasn't enthralled. From the engaging performances across the board, particularly from Sir Ian putting in one of his most memorable and touching performances to date as the aged sleuth (the man just keeps getting better), Laura Linney as the out of sorts Mrs. Munro, young Milo Parker as Roger and Hiroyuki Sanada as Tamiki Umezaki. There is not a wrong foot put forward with the acting or direction. It truly is something to behold.

The performances are rivalled by Sherlock Holmes' sartorial design courtesy of Keith Madden (The Woman in Black, Centurion). I kept on getting distracted marvelling at the detail of the gorgeous suits Sir Ian fashions, as well as the period set design from Martin Childs (From Hell, Quills, Shakespeare in Love) which is elegant but simple, particularly the Japanese scenes which creates an interesting juxtaposition when contrast with the scenes of devastation left in the wake of WW2. All of which is competently shot to convey the story without drawing focus from the characters by Tobias A. Schliessler (The Fifth Estate, Battleship, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Friday Night Lights)

Sir Ian McKellan as Sherlock Holmes in Mr. Holmes (ZOOM)

I should also mention Carter Burwell's score, it accentuates the mystery and period but doesn't quite reach the atmospheric heights of his noir Blood Simple score for the Cohen Brothers which is still one of my favourite soundtracks of all time some 31 years on.

Onto the best part of the film. The story. I'm not familiar with Mitch Cullin's 2005 book A Slight Trick of the Mind that Mr. Holmes is adapted from. More is my shame, as I imagine the narrative of the film rolls out deliciously as the mystery in the book – as each page is pulled back to reveal a layer of discovery. Nothing is wasted as we see clues like a breadcrumb trail that sometimes lead us to a twist or down a false path. The audience are treated as intelligent adults rather than idiots that need repetitiveness or blunt force exposition. In this respect it really is in the best spirit of an intelligent Sherlock Holmes mystery.

In Bill Condon's Mr. Holmes universe, all the stories you have ever heard of Sherlock Holmes are fiction based on the exploits of Holmes written by Holmes' faithful ally Dr Watson, even Holmes' most recognisable characteristics are Watson inventions. The real Holmes is pedantic and doesn't suffer fools gladly. But like the Sherlock Holmes of old, Sir Ian's new Holmes sparkles with intelligence, he is a modern man ahead of his time concerned with the environment particularly the colony collapse of his bee population (to his own end) as well as the effects of World War 2.


This is easy to say and write but certainly not as easy to convey in character in a film unless one is as supremely gifted as Sir Ian. But Holmes is getting old and his once razor-sharp mind is slowly becoming a steel trap of its own for our protagonist as it deteriorates with age. I really liked this twist on the Holmes mythology as not only is humanising and makes the story more personal but on another level, it accentuates his powers (of deduction), as though it's clear no man was a match for Sherlock Holmes, his greatest enemy has proven to be himself. In someone else's hands this may be a tragedy but between Condon and McKellen emotion is masterfully kept on the edge between melancholy and hope with rapier-sharp wit thrown in.

Sir Ian McKellan as Sherlock Holmes & Frances de la Tour as Madame Schirmer in Mr. Holmes (ZOOM)

Like Christopher Nolan's Batman and Sam Mendes' James Bond the tale of Mr. Holmes takes place in the dark times post WW2, across time periods and countries. Holmes has long put his detective work behind him and has retired to the Sussex countryside with his housekeeper Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney) and her son Roger (Milo Parker). Between his cantankerousness and failing health and her dissatisfaction, the household is tense. Holmes has put his efforts behind trying to stave off or cure his failing health until the game is afoot once again and he springs, well hobbles, back into action to revisit a case that haunts him and in the process discovers something much bigger with startling implications for himself.

I really am trying to avoid spoilers as Mr. Holmes deserves to be seen without expectations its a marvellous film that steers clear of the cliches but brings the spirit of the world's greatest detective back to life as he should be seen. Leaving the cinema after the screening I was overjoyed and beaming that Bill Condon was able to reinvent such a well-loved character in a genuinely surprising and fresh way and delicately handle such sensitive subject matter. Bill Condon's Mr. Holmes is a piece of cinematic magic but I couldn't help thinking a Mitch Cullin, Bill Condon and Ian McKellen young Sherlock Holmes up against Professor Moriarty would have been a force of nature. Talking about Young Sherlock Holmes keep an eye out for the onscreen matinee Sherlock Holmes as you may recognise him.

Sir Ian McKellan as Sherlock Holmes in Mr. Holmes (ZOOM)

Mr. Holmes spoilery official synopsis
In 1947, the world famous sleuth has retired to a remote Sussex farmhouse, living in relative anonymity with only his housekeeper Mrs Munro and her young son Roger for company. Cantankerous, demanding and frustrated with the mis-representation of him in Watson’s best-selling novels, he diverts his attention to an unsolved case.  As the mystery deepens, Sherlock tries desperately to recall the events of 30 years ago that ultimately led to his retirement.

Starring Academy Award nominee Laura Linney (The Savages) as housekeeper Mrs Munro, Frances de la Tour (Harry Potter) and newcomer Milo Parker, MR HOLMES is adapted from Mitch Cullin’s 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind and is directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters).

MR HOLMES will be released in cinemas across the UK & Ireland on June 19th.



The Establishing Shot: SHERLOCK HOLMES THE WORLD'S GREATEST DETECTIVE RETURNS TO FACE HIS WORST ENEMY YET! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IAN MCKELLEN & BILL CONDON'S MR. HOLMES - FILM REVIEW