Marval Movie

"I can remember absolutely everything young man. That's my curse, that's one of the greatest curses inflicted on the human race memory."
-Jedediah Leland, Citizen Kane

Sherlock Holmes now has two rather successful television shows running at the same right now. It is another case of a resurgence of a character that seems to happen every fifty years or so. The great detective and his ability to deduce where a person has been and say exactly what he's thinking are very endearing traits that lend themselves to multiple depictions and can indeed transcend time. But what everyone forgets is to add time to the man and the real human quality to the myth.

Mr. Holmes is a movie, like Lincoln, that shows us the real man behind the classic public perception of the character and gives us the man.

We are given a very elderly Sherlock Holmes, ninety-three. Who's last case is long behind him and now lives out his life in the countryside while attending to his Bee's. His is last goal is simple, he has to write down an accurate depiction of the events of his last case, no overblown romancing or dramatizing, only one problem. He cant remember it. 

Ian McKellen is sure to get an Oscar nomination for his portrayal. His ability to play the more dotty Sherlock at ninety-three and in the flashback scenes where he had so much more of his flare. He is a man burdened by regret and has outlived everyone that once provided a little bit of companionship in his life. But still has a few pieces of the remarkable mind that made him the greatest detective.

The other great star in the movie is Milo Parker as Roger, son of the housekeeper. There are many child actors that are simply not good, it's not their fault, acting is a demanding craft that takes time to perfect and maturity. Parker is somehow able to hold the screen with Ian McKellen as an equal. Filled with fun wit and screen presence that will lend itself to a bright future.

There are indeed mystery's to be solved, but this is not a battle of wits type like some of the more popular stories. No this is the mystery of human nature and the way of life. A mystery that we must all try and deduce at some point in our lives but never will entirely solve.

The movie is truly exceptional in it's sound. Everything can be heard with razor sharp detail. From Holmes wheezing, a spoon on a cup, the creaking of an old chair to a finger moving across a page.

Now to address the depiction of one other character, Watson. He is a disembodied presence in the movie, never do we see his face or hear his voice. I'm not sure I entirely agree with that choice but still I understand that this is Holmes movie and he is gone so we must roll with it.

Mr. Holmes is a well thought-out, shot and sounding movie with minimal characters and very strong performances. I do hate it when the writers of characters begin to get swept-up in the grandiose of the characters and forget about the simple human elements to them. Such a thing is happening to the character of Sherlock Holmes and this movie seeks to bring him down and tears the myth down and give us the man.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 4