'Mr. Holmes' (PG)

****

Haunted by events some thirty years earlier, an aged Sherlock Holmes looks back upon his life and ponders his final case.

It is hard to imagine anyone other than Ian McKellen taking on the role of the aged sleuth and pulling it off with the finesse that he can. Each movement is idiosyncratic, each raise of the eyebrow nuanced, and the moments of silence in which he stares into space are as mesmerising as any speech. Indeed, one of the most powerful moments of the film is when Holmes, stumped during an argument, merely stares directly forward, his mind working away behind his intense eyes. Aged to look 93 by excellent prosthetics and make-up, McKellen spends the majority of the film struggling with his memory as he lives out his retirement in the countryside, minding his bees. It is a quiet, subtle performance, aided by Milo Parker as his protégé, Roger, the intelligent yet stifled son of his housekeeper (Laura Linney). The relationship between these characters is at the heart of the film, and whilst the film focuses on these three it is at its strongest, with the Japanese storyline being too underdeveloped.  

For me, this is a film about storytelling. Holmes, characterised by Watson, provided with a pipe and deer-stalker by the illustrator, is compared to his fictionalised self throughout the film, but longs to free himself from that celebrity. Roger revels in the stories that Mr. Holmes tells him, eager for him to continue the story, whilst Roger’s mother reminds him of his dead father telling him stories at bedtime. Holmes, in turn, can tell stories, reading the clothes and skin of people to learn about their days. However, the main story is the blurred line between fact and fiction – where is it appropriate to tell the truth, or to carve out a story? Holmes has long fought for truth, believing in logic and answers, but in his old age, he reconsiders some of the truths he has told, pondering whether or not a fiction would have been preferable. It is a poignant reminder of the power of words and language, and how cowardice and bravery are often mingled in with the phrases we articulate, and as Holmes comes to realise that he choices have not always been correct, McKellen is heartbreaking.

A slow and ponderous film, held together by a series of brilliant performances, led by the nuanced Ian McKellen, Mr. Holmes is likely to be overlooked as an unremarkable piece of cinema. And yet, I would argue that this quiet little film is a masterclass in acting, directing, photography and editing. Unassuming in its portrayal of bereavement and the decline into senility, it is undoubtedly absorbing and highly emotional, and definitely worth two hours of your time.