Mr. Holmes movie review

Probably one of the best Holmes movie ever to hit the screens. Every super hero character has a twilight zone, where in he transfers his power to the next gen person, a torch bearer in every sense. The super power of Holmes being his razor sharp brain, aided by logic and facts, the only validity for being his successor would be to have similar or better acumen. Just like origin movies for superheroes, which are sure shot thrillers and crowd pullers, the twilight zone setups are mostly laced with sadness due to weakening of power and with the knowing notion of fatality. It is very difficult to digest ones idol and hero getting beaten into a pulp or suffering embarrassment and insults on an area where they ruled. May be that is one of the key reasons why MCU’s and DU’s never make movies about the demise of their cash cow characters or at the least will have another origin series to the set the positive tone at the end. With this context, Mr. Holmes, stands heads and shoulders above any movie made on a fictional character, living on its twilight stage.

The casting couldn’t be more perfect. The actor who plays the titular role, has more wrinkles on his face than Mother Theresa and is easily convincing for the age he plays. In the flashback portions shown a couple of years previous, he is bit brisk, with a noticeable change in his gait and walk, but still realistic for the age being portrayed. The very first scene where he deducts the next action of an young boy on a moving train, might not have set the Thames on fire or as comparable to any other Holmes introduction aided by his brilliant observations. But it sets the tone for the whole movie, like how he is dependent on a young kid, to support his failing memories and to step up encouragement for him in finishing a story right, albeit given a fictional ending by Watson. It doffs an invisible hat to the efforts of Watson and Holmes brother Mycroft in ensuring continuous support to all his eccentricities and for putting up with him. The movie is all about Holmes the vulnerable old man, who couldn’t recollect a singular case from his past, that had lead him to his retirement and exile. He wants to relive that case and give it a correct ending, which he does so in the end with the help of the kid. The connection of Prickly ash, the Japanese person and his dad story, lacks cohesion to the otherwise clear storyline. May be it does, but I couldn’t quite follow. The movie is as slow as the aged character and there are no ground breaking revelations or action sequences, at the best, it involves saving couple of honey bees from wasps. But as a story, it couldn’t be more evocative and a glowing tribute to one of the best detective characters ever made. I guess there could be some sequels in pipeline, provided they can manage to weave in an next gen character who leverages on Holmes. Looking forward to the same.

Gils verdict – an obvious must watch for all fanboys of Holmes.