Mr. Holmes

"There seems to be an outbreak of mortality."

In 1947, Sherlock Holmes (McKellen) is retired and living in the country.  He lives alone, tending to his bees.  He is aided by his housekeeper, Mrs. Munro (Linney) and her inquisitive son Roger (Parker).  It has been 30 years since his last case, and he is unsatisfied with Dr. John Watson's (Starkey) fictionalized versions of their cases.  He is trying to remember the particulars of the case, but his memory is fading.

As he tries to remember, he starts to bond with Roger.  Roger helps with the bees and asks questions about the case.  Holmes tries a new memory treatment from his recent trip to Japan.  Can Holmes remember the case and solve the mystery?


The character of Sherlock Holmes was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887.  In addition to the novels and short stories written by Doyle, other authors have written for the character.  In 2005, American author Mitch Cullin wrote the Holmes novel "A Slight Trick of the Mind."  This film is an adaptation of "A Slight Trick of the Mind."

This Holmes is older (93) and declining.  His memory is failing and he is forced to rely on other people.  It is interesting to see Holmes this way.  He is still brilliant, but has given up his hobby of detective work.  He is also more humble (and at times heartbreaking) than previous versions.

Ian McKellen is excellent in the role.  He presents an intelligent and loner Holmes, but also shows the deterioration and pain in his life.  Milo Parker works well with McKellen and is a charming lead.  The leads are great... the story is a little slow.  It is an interesting premise (I have not read Cullin's novel), but the writing could be better.  Good, but not great.

Mr. Holmes (2015) 104 minutes
Director: Bill Condon
Starring: Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes
Laura Linney as Mrs. Munro
Milo Parker as Roger Munro
Hiroyuki Sanada as Tamiki Umezaki
Hattie Morahan as Ann Kelmot
Patrick Kennedy as Thomas Kelmot
Roger Allam as Dr. Barrie
Phil Davis as Inspector Gilbert
Frances de la Tour as Madame Schirmer
Colin Starkey as Dr. John Watson