Mr. Holmes (2015) - Film Review
- Neyouno ケカ
- Apr 21, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 20
A masterful Character study into the mind and heart of Storytelling's most famous detective.
Introduction
Sherlock Holmes needs no introduction, he is one of the most famous characters in the entirety of the Western fiction and has been a staple in people's minds since the 1900s. Stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have laid the foundation for the Crime and Mystery genre and has since sprouted plenty a character who always try to capture the allure of Sherlock. The sheer imagery of a pipe, magnifying glass and deerstalker has been instilled in most modern reader's minds from childhood, and such imagery has been depicted in countless plays, TV shows and films alike. Most of these depictions, whether they be direct retellings Sherlock Holmes stories, or reimaginings, focus on Sherlock's incredible intellect. Mr. Holmes on the other hand takes a completely different approach to telling a Sherlock Holmes story. It does not focus on Sherlock's incredible intellect but on the man behind said intellect. It delves deep into the heart of the man who spent his entire life hiding behind his gift and solving other people's problems.
The film gives us a unique look into cognitive deterioration and dread of loneliness that everyone can relate to. Sherlock shield of knowledge has always protected him from irrational emotions and has subsequently left him alone in the world which is later exacerbated by his final case which drives him into depression, retirement and begins his cognitive deterioration. His last wish is to solve that final case that has haunted him for the past 30 years so he can finally get closure and accept death with a clear consciousness.
Story
Mr. Holmes follows a simple slowly paced story where a 90-year old retired Sherlock, battling senility, attempts to recall the conclusion to his final case which drove him to reclusion and deepened his cognitive decline. While simple, the story is masterfully crafted, every mystery gives the viewer enough clues to parse the solution.
Holmes live in a secluded manor, far away from 221B Baker Street, with his housekeeper Mrs. Munro and her son Roger whose interest Holmes takes a liking to. Roger's youthful outlook on life and willingness to learn and explore gives Holmes inklings of strength to try and remember his case and write down a correction of Watson's story of his last case.
Characters
Mr. Holmes is a quintessential Character study. Sir Ian McKellen gives a masterful performance as both a prime and well past his prime version of Sherlock Holmes. The nuance he brings to these two depictions lives the audience at an awe. The film opens up with an old and seemingly disorientated Holmes on the train and the subsequent half an hour follows his return from Japan and interactions with Mrs. Munro and Roger. Here we see an old and deteriorating Holmes, struggling to remember names and places. Sir Ian delivers a performance filled with nuance, older Holmes breathing, pauses and struggles are all done masterfully. You can truly believe that this is an old dying man, He struggles to walk, or string long sentences, often times his eyes would simply become distant and his breathing would become heavier. On the other hand when he recollects his final case, Sir Ian delivers a completely different version of Holmes. His breathing problems are gone, his posture is perfect and not hunched over, he is in control and calmly assesses every situation. This type of contrast in both his appearance, courtesy of the incredible make-up, and acting shows the sheer deterioration that has happened to Sherlock and the pain he is enduring both physically and emotionally, and because of this a clearly selfish and self-centred Holmes invokes a sense of pity at first and true compassion as the story develops. This masterful performance is what truly carries the film and wonderfully depicts the premise of an old and withering Sherlock trying to regain his wits to solve the case that drove him into retirement.
The supporting cast is rather small, however crucial to understanding the journey Sherlock is going on. Mrs Munro, Holmes' housekeeper, is a widow trying to provide for her son while battling severe grief and bitterness she holds towards Holmes due to his selfish nature. As any mother she is trying to protect her son from, what she thinks, is Holmes' selfish games. On the other hand young Roger is infatued with Holmes and his brilliance, he wants to impress him while also aspiring for a life better than that of a housekeeper. He and Holmes bond over an apiary and the mystery of "what is killing the bees" a theme that has been pervading the film throughout, which at the end perfectly symbolises the problem Holmes has been facing.
Conclusion
Mr. Holmes is an incredibly crafted character study of a reimagined character we all know very well. Sir Ian's performance is truly the core of the film and in some ways it carries it. This is, of course, not to say the rest of the film isn't brilliant. The story is filled with nuance and little motifs that pervade almost every major scene. The themes of grief, loneliness, fear and acceptance are all covered beautifully. The supporting cast gives room for Sir Ian's Holmes to truly feel human and explore multiple layers of his being. The Score hits you from the beginning and is constantly giving you a feeling of uneasiness during pivotal moments while letting you settle and enjoy the performance to the point of comfort, leaving you feel like you are simply having a conversation with an old and crumbled man trying to connect the broken pieces and find his soul for the first time in his old life.
Along with this the film is trying to showcase that the well known tropes of Sherlock as well as his cloak of intellect he hides behind is not what makes a real human being. One must truly know one's heart in order to feel comfort in one's loneliness.
Mr. Holmes is a truly masterful character study, filled with great visuals, breath-taking performances and a lovely story it gives a unique look into a side of Sherlock Holmes readers rarely get to see explored. While the pacing is slow at times and the ending a tad too sudden. Sir Ian's exceptional performance is truly some of the greatest acting put on film. My score for the film is a 91/100, not because Mr. Holmes has a never-before-seen story, or one that is truly breath-taking, but because it is a story that is real and human, with a message we can all take something from, coupled with a masterful performance the film is a must watch.
Film Credits
Fantastic review! Great from beginning to end! Keep'em comin'!