Mr. Holmes is a well-shot film with pleasing cinematography, quality performances throughout, and confident direction and yet, I’m not sure it really justifies it’s own existence. For the entire running time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was watching the highest budgeted Hallmark special in history.
See the problem is that this story is so inconsequential. Sure, Ian McKellen is excellent as the aging Sherlock Holmes, now slowly losing his memories as his mind goes. His relationship to the young boy is the highlight of the film, believable and touching. It’s staggeringly slow-paced (which is fine for me but I think would make most people turn it off in the first 20 minutes) and the story just doesn’t rise to the level of being a “must see.” There’s nothing bad about this film. It’s just mostly forgettable. Still, if the premise sounds interesting or you are a McKellen fan, it’s competent and well made.