The Mrs and I took the children and my mother to see the Tarzan movie (See Review here). After I gave my somewhat subdued Critique She proclaimed "you just don't like movies anymore".
Well, guess what? I do, I loved Mr. Holmes. Full disclosure, I am a huge Sherlock fan and have watched a lot of renditions of the character. I have read all the stories several times. He is one of my favorite fictional characters.
This movie, taken at face value, is about an aging Sherlock, about 93 or so, who has lost or is losing his mental prowess. He is desperate to solve his last case. It was a case he had already solved and made him want to retire 30 years prior, only now he cannot remember why he chose to live in isolation on the coast raising bees.
So many subtleties, so delicate of story. The pacing the characters, the dialog, were superb. There was a great moment where Mr. Holmes evaluates what it means to be Sherlock Holmes.
It is demonstrating the benign act of aging through the
absurd character of Holmes. It has nothing to do with a detective story that is
why it is a case he already solved. It is everything to do with a person being
old and dealing with it.
Now I had another theory, What if this was not a story about and Aging Sherlock Holmes but just a rich old man in his dotage who thinks he is Sherlock. Parts of the movie where other characters call him by his name could be using it ironically (you know like some one says "no shit Sherlock), especially at a time when this type of aging was not dealt with. after a quick second viewing, the theory does hold up. I don't know if the movie makers intended this or not.
No matter which way you look at it, it is a elegant story, and very touching. It is out on DVD, I suggest watching it.
