Mr. Holmes 2015

     This film is based on the 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin.  The setting of this film is England of 1947.  Sherlock Holmes has been retired for a long time, he is now 93 years old and he lives in a Sussex village with his housekeeper and her young son.  Holmes is having trouble with his memory and his doctor recommends he keep a notebook with a black dot and the date each time he has trouble remembering.  Holmes travels to Japan to obtain a prickly ash plant to improve his memory.  He has been using royal jelly from his bees but without success.  The prickly ash jelly tastes terrible and it doesn’t seem to be working either.  Holmes wants to remember the details of his final case in 1917 and the case that caused him to retire.

     I thought this was interesting and enjoyable.  The scenery of the countryside is very beautiful.  McKellen is very good in his role and also Milo Parker.  I wondered how old McKellen really was but I found out he was made up to look older.  Maybe he didn’t mind but I don’t think actresses would enjoy that very much?  He said he may not reprise his role in another film because the clothing was terribly itchy!!  3 ½* (I liked this move)

104 min, Drama directed by Bill Condon with Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Hiroyuki Sanada, Milo Parker, Hattie Morahan, Patrick Kennedy, Roger Allam, Philip Davis, Frances de la Tour, Charles Maddox, Takako Akashi.

Note:  Imdb 7.0 out of 10, 87% critic 72% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 ½*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Hatfield, Herforshire; London; Chatham Kent; East Sussex, England and Japan.  Ian McKellen is 76 years old and he really doesn’t have as many wrinkles or as big a nose.