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==Plot==
==Plot==
In 1947, the long-retired Sherlock Holmes, aged 93, lives in a remote Sussex farmhouse with his housekeeper, Mrs. Munro, and her young son Roger. Having just returned from a trip to [[Hiroshima]], he starts to use jelly made from the [[Zanthoxylum piperitum|prickly ash]] plant he acquired there in an effort to improve his failing memory. Unhappy about his ex-partner [[Dr. Watson|Watson's]] account of Holmes' last case, he hopes to write his own account but is having trouble recalling the details. As he spends time with Roger, showing him how to take care of the bees in the farmhouse's [[apiary]], Holmes begins to remember the case and why he retired from the detective business.
In 1947, the long-retired Sherlock Holmes, aged 93, lives in a remote Sussex farmhouse with his housekeeper, Mrs. Munro, and her young son Roger. Having just returned from a trip to [[Hiroshima]], he starts to use jelly made from the [[Zanthoxylum piperitum|prickly ash]] plant he acquired there in an effort to improve his failing memory. Unhappy about his ex-partner [[Dr. Watson|Watson's]] account of Holmes' last case, he hopes to write his own account but is having trouble recalling the details. As he spends time with Roger, showing him how to take care of the bees in the farmhouse's [[apiary]], Holmes takes a paternal liking to the lad, impressed with his curiosity and intelligence, and Roger because a sort of student of Holme's methods.

As time passes, and with gentle prodding from Roger, Holmes begins to remember the case and why he retired from the detective business.


Thirty-five years earlier, a man named Thomas Kelmot had approached Holmes with a request to find out why his wife Ann had changed so much after suffering two miscarriages. Holmes followed Ann around London and observed her taking actions that made it appear as if she were planning to murder Thomas and inherit his property, such as forging checks in his name and cashing them, checking on the details of his will, and buying poison from a [[pharmacist|chemist's]] shop. When the two met face to face, Holmes deduced her true intention: to have gravestones made for herself and her miscarried children, and to commit suicide with the poison. Ann poured the poison on the ground and asked Holmes if they could be together, but Holmes still saw the matter as a case to be solved rather than one of a human being seeking companionship. He urged her to return to her husband, but she instead killed herself by stepping in front of an oncoming train. Blaming himself for her death, Holmes chose to retire.
Thirty-five years earlier, a man named Thomas Kelmot had approached Holmes with a request to find out why his wife Ann had changed so much after suffering two miscarriages. Holmes followed Ann around London and observed her taking actions that made it appear as if she were planning to murder Thomas and inherit his property, such as forging checks in his name and cashing them, checking on the details of his will, and buying poison from a [[pharmacist|chemist's]] shop. When the two met face to face, Holmes deduced her true intention: to have gravestones made for herself and her miscarried children, and to commit suicide with the poison. Ann poured the poison on the ground and asked Holmes if they could be together, but Holmes still saw the matter as a case to be solved rather than one of a human being seeking companionship. He urged her to return to her husband, but she instead killed herself by stepping in front of an oncoming train. Blaming himself for her death, Holmes chose to retire.

Revision as of 16:41, 23 July 2015

Mr. Holmes
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBill Condon
Screenplay byJeffrey Hatcher
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyTobias A. Schliessler
Edited byVirginia Katz
Music byCarter Burwell
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 8 February 2015 (2015-02-08) (Berlin premiere)
  • 19 June 2015 (2015-06-19) (United Kingdom)
  • 17 July 2015 (2015-07-17) (United States)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6.6 million[2]

Mr. Holmes is a 2015 crime drama mystery film directed by Bill Condon, based on the 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind written by Mitch Cullin and featuring the character Sherlock Holmes. The film stars Sir Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes, Laura Linney as housekeeper Mrs. Munro and Milo Parker as her son Roger. Set primarily during his retirement, the film follows a 93-year-old Holmes who struggles to recall the details of his final case while his mind begins to deteriorate.

Principal photography began on 5 July 2014, in London. The film had been selected to be screened out of competition at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival and had its premiere on 7 February 2015.[3][4]

The film was released in British cinemas on 19 June 2015,[5] and was released in the United States on 17 July 2015.

Plot

In 1947, the long-retired Sherlock Holmes, aged 93, lives in a remote Sussex farmhouse with his housekeeper, Mrs. Munro, and her young son Roger. Having just returned from a trip to Hiroshima, he starts to use jelly made from the prickly ash plant he acquired there in an effort to improve his failing memory. Unhappy about his ex-partner Watson's account of Holmes' last case, he hopes to write his own account but is having trouble recalling the details. As he spends time with Roger, showing him how to take care of the bees in the farmhouse's apiary, Holmes takes a paternal liking to the lad, impressed with his curiosity and intelligence, and Roger because a sort of student of Holme's methods.

As time passes, and with gentle prodding from Roger, Holmes begins to remember the case and why he retired from the detective business.

Thirty-five years earlier, a man named Thomas Kelmot had approached Holmes with a request to find out why his wife Ann had changed so much after suffering two miscarriages. Holmes followed Ann around London and observed her taking actions that made it appear as if she were planning to murder Thomas and inherit his property, such as forging checks in his name and cashing them, checking on the details of his will, and buying poison from a chemist's shop. When the two met face to face, Holmes deduced her true intention: to have gravestones made for herself and her miscarried children, and to commit suicide with the poison. Ann poured the poison on the ground and asked Holmes if they could be together, but Holmes still saw the matter as a case to be solved rather than one of a human being seeking companionship. He urged her to return to her husband, but she instead killed herself by stepping in front of an oncoming train. Blaming himself for her death, Holmes chose to retire.

When Mrs. Munro finds Roger lying unconscious near the house, a victim of repeated stings, she blames Holmes for caring only about the bees and tries to burn down the apiary. Holmes stops her, realizing that Roger was stung by wasps; he had found their nest and tried to drown them in order to prevent them from killing the bees, but they swarmed on him instead. After Roger is rushed to a hospital and begins to recover, Holmes and Mrs. Munro burn down the nest. Acknowledging the value of spiritual and personal connections with others, Holmes tells Mrs. Munro that the house and grounds will be left to her and Roger after his death, encouraging her to stay in the home she knows rather than move away in order to take an unrewarding job. As Roger begins to teach his mother how to care for the bees, Holmes emulates a tradition he saw being practiced in Hiroshima by placing a ring of stones on the farmhouse grounds, to serve as a place where he can recall the loved ones he has lost over the years.

Cast

Production

On 5 September 2013 it was announced that Mitch Cullin's 2005 book A Slight Trick of the Mind will be adapted into a film with Ian McKellen as a long-retired Sherlock Holmes. Bill Condon would direct Jeffrey Hatcher's adaptation of the novel. AI-Film was on board to finance and co-produce the film, Anne Carey would produce through her Archer Gray Productions, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman would produce through See-Saw Films, and BBC Films would also co-finance the film. FilmNation Entertainment would handle the international sales for the film.[6]

On 7 May 2014 Laura Linney and Hattie Morahan were added to the cast, in which Linney was set to play Mrs. Munro, the housekeeper to Holmes.[7] On 9 July Hiroyuki Sanada was added to the cast to play Matsuda Umezaki, a prickly ash plant enthusiast who Holmes visits in Japan.[9] On 10 July more cast were revealed which included Patrick Kennedy, Roger Allam, Phil Davis, Frances de la Tour and Milo Parker to play Mrs. Munro's son.[8] On 22 August it was revealed that Nicholas Rowe who portrayed Holmes in Young Sherlock Holmes would have a cameo role in the film. He portrays Holmes in a sequence spoofing the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films.[10] On 3 September Miramax acquired the United States' distribution rights to the film.[11]

Filming

Principal photography began on 5 July 2014 in the United Kingdom.[12][13] On 9 July actor McKellen tweeted his picture as Sherlock Holmes in the film.[14] The film was set for a seven-week shoot on location in London and on the south coast of England.[8]

Music

On 14 July 2014 it was announced that Carter Burwell would be composing the music for the film.[15]

Reception

Mr. Holmes has received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 87%, based on 119 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Mr. Holmes focuses on the man behind the mysteries, and while it may lack Baker Street thrills, it more than compensates with tenderly wrought, well-acted drama."[16] On Metacritic the film has a score of 67 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17]

References

  1. ^ "MR. HOLMES (PG)". British Board of Film Classification. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Mr. Holmes (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Jafar Panahi's New Film in Competition". berlinale.de. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Queen of the Desert". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Teaser Trailer For Ian McKellen's Mr Holmes Lands - Movie News - Empire". empireonline.com.
  6. ^ a b Kemp, Stuart (5 September 2013). "Toronto: Ian McKellen to Play Retired Sherlock Holmes in Bill Condon's 'A Slight Trick of the Mind'". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  7. ^ a b c McNary, Dave (7 May 2014). "Laura Linney Joins Ian McKellen in 'A Slight Trick of the Mind'". variety.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Barraclough, Leo (10 July 2014). "First Image of Ian McKellen in Bill Condon's 'Mr. Holmes,' Further Cast Revealed". variety.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  9. ^ a b Yamto, Jen (9 July 2014). "Hiroyuki Sanada Joins Sherlock Holmes Drama 'A Slight Trick Of The Mind'". deadline.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: Nicholas Rowe To Cameo In Mr Holmes - Movie News - Empire". empireonline.com. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  11. ^ Hall, Gina (3 September 2014). "Miramax Acquires Elderly Sherlock Tale 'Mr. Holmes,' Starring Ian McKellen and Laura Linney". thewrap.com. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Principal photography began in UK 5 July 2014". mckellen.com.
  13. ^ "ON THE SET FOR 7/07/14: OWEN WILSON & KRISTEN WIIG START RELATIVITY ARMORED CAR PROJECT, MEL GIBSON WRAPS ON BLOOD FATHER". studiosystemnews.com. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  14. ^ Fletcher, Harry (9 July 2014). "See Ian McKellen as a 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes". digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  15. ^ "Carter Burwell to Score Bill Condon's 'Mr. Holmes'". filmmusicreporter.com. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  16. ^ "Mr. Holmes (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Mr. Holmes Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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