Here’s Watson at the cinema this week!
Despite the stories of Sherlock Holmes getting older, the man himself seems to get younger. Recent years have seen Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr presenting audiences with a sexy and almost Superhero-esque version of the great detective. That’s definitely not the case with Mr Holmes.
Adapted from Mitch Cullin’s 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind, Sir Ian McKellen plays an aging and fragile Sherlock Holmes. Set in 1947, the long-retired Holmes is now living in a Sussex village with his housekeeper and her rising detective son.
Struggling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy to help him get his head around an unresolved 50-year-old case that has been haunting him. He only remembers fragments of the details – which involve an angry husband and a secret bond with his beautiful but unstable wife. Will Holmes be able to solve this case before his time on earth comes to an end?
McKellen does a great job playing a vulnerable Holmes. With the actor portraying a character that we all know so convincingly, you’ll be rooting for him during the entirety of the film. Much like you would with anyone you know well, the more the power of his mind weakens, the more heartbroken you’ll feel.
Overall this is a version of Holmes that does the franchise justice. But be warned, it’s a slow burner. Don’t expect the slick and stylish action sequences we’ve seen with recent instalments.
See Mr Holmes and much more at Showcase Cinema, Peterborough. Visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for the latest up-to-date show times. You can also join the chat on Twitter @showcasecinemas or on Facebook by searching for ‘Showcase Cinemas UK’.
[youtube id=”qng3t9RZk6Q” width=”600″ height=”350″]
Genre: Drama
Cast: Ian McKellan, Laura Linney, Milo Parker & Nicholas Rowe
Running Time: 1hr 44mins
Director: Bill Condon
See it if you liked: Gods and Monsters & The Fifth Estate
Mikey Clarke
Comments