IMDb plot summary: An aged, retired Sherlock Holmes deals with early dementia as he tries to remember both his final case and a mysterious woman whose memory haunts him. He also befriends a fan, the young son of his housekeeper, who wants him to work again.
Directed by Bill Condon. Starring Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker, and Hiroyuki Sanada.
What an interesting little movie. It's part mystery, part character study, part old age drama, but all the parts seem to fit together fairly well. The thing that stands out most about this movie is its profound sense of isolation. Even as Holmes befriends his housekeeper's young son, he is still stuck alone in his memories or lack thereof, with nobody to reach out to for confirmation of his own past. This intangible sense of isolation is so pervasive that when it becomes an actual plot point halfway through the movie, it makes absolute sense. The final conclusion and most recent solved mystery seem a little contrived, but as a whole this is a lovely and haunting look at a very familiar character.
3.5 stars.
How it entered my Flickchart:
Mr. Holmes > Days of Heaven
Mr. Holmes < A Clockwork Orange
Mr. Holmes > Children of Paradise
Mr. Holmes > The Call
Mr. Holmes > Eve's Bayou
Mr. Holmes > Nick of Time (which is too high on my chart)
Mr. Holmes < 21 Jump Street
Mr. Holmes < The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)
Mr. Holmes > An Education
Mr. Holmes < Monsoon Wedding
Final spot: #658 out of 2498.
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