By Eric Hillis, TheMovieWaffler.com
originally published: 07/18/2015
Thanks to the Guy Ritchie movies and the contemporary set BBC series, Sherlock Holmes, arguably the most well known fictional character of all time, is once again occupying a prominent position in pop culture. Based on Mitch Cullin’s 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind, Bill Condon’s reteaming with his Gods and Monsters star Ian McKellen has little in common with either of the aforementioned franchises.
We’ve seen aged Holmes on screen before. In his penultimate performance, the great Peter Cushing played a retired Holmes called back into service for one final case in Sherlock Holmes and the Masks of Death. With Mr. Holmes however he’s well and truly out of the detection racket. Here, McKellen’s Holmes is 93, retired and keeping bees at his home on the Sussex coast, which he shares with live-in housekeeper Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney) and her precocious son Roger (Milo Parker), who takes great interest in Holmes’ former life, much to the annoyance of his mother, not such a fan of her employer.
Set just after World War II, the movie posits Holmes as an international celebrity, thanks to the writings of his former comrade Watson, who we learn passed away a couple of decades before the events of the film. A movie (clearly modelled on the Basil Rathbone series of the ‘40s) has just been released based on Holmes’ final case before his retirement three decades previous. Annoyed at how Watson swapped the tragic real conclusion of the case for an upbeat resolution, Holmes attempts to write his version of the case, the details of which we see in flashback. Not unlike Hitchcock’s Vertigo, it’s a case that sees Holmes hired to follow an attractive troubled woman, and like Jimmy Stewart, he finds himself duped by her charms.
Remove the flashbacks to Sherlock’s sleuthing past and Mr. Holmes is a simple tale of a man reflecting on the mistakes of his life at a time when every day is precious. This leads Holmes to discover that logic and reason, the backbone of his career, may lead to the correct result, but not always the right one. As well as his reassessment of his final case, a recent trip to Japan, at the invite of the son of a former colleague, prompts Holmes to reflect on how his obsession with facts and lack of compassion has led to his ending up alone.
Delivering two very different performances, McKellen seems born to inhabit this role. As the 93-year-old Holmes he brilliantly portrays the struggle of a highly intelligent man attempting to fight the inevitable mental ravages of time. As a 60ish Holmes he makes for the most convincing portrayal of the detective in his pomp since Jeremy Brett, star of ITV’s great ‘80s series.
Ever since British movie producers recently discovered that elderly people like to watch movies just as much as the rest of us, we’ve seen a spate of mostly awful films featuring protagonists over the age of 60, a sub-genre that’s come to be known as ‘The Grey Pound’. Unlike those movies, which usually take a very patronising view of old people, Mr. Holmes isn’t afraid to present a realistic look at the aging process, and the result is the best portrait of an Old Age Pensioner since The Straight Story.
About the author:
Eric Hillis is a film critic living in Sligo, Ireland who runs the website
TheMovieWaffler.com
Rocky In Concert: Celebrating The 50 Anniversary Of Rocky
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJExperience the underdog story that defined a generation. Now bigger, bolder, and brought to life with a live symphony orchestra. Watch the original Rocky film on the big screen while the iconic Bill Conti score is performed live, delivering every triumph, every heartbreak, and every adrenaline-fueled moment with knockout power.
Joe Versus The Volcano Movies On Mainstreet
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJCritics were baffled. Audiences stayed away. Now many consider it one of Tom Hanks' and Meg Ryan' most charming and philosophical comedies. Funny, romantic, and surprisingly profound.
Sunday Film Series – Rebel Without A Cause In 35mm (1955)
Sunday, November 15, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJJoin us for a 35mm screening of 1955’s iconic film “Rebel Without a Cause” starring James Dean, Natalie Wood (Academy Award Nominee, Best Supporting Actress), and Sal Mineo (Academy Award Nominee, Best Supporting Actor).
Senior Student Movie Day – Hamlet (2018)
Monday, November 16, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJUCPAC invites Seniors (ages 55 and up) to join local students for a digital matinee film screening of 2018’s “Hamlet,” starring Andrew Scott as the troubled Prince of Denmark.
The Exorcist Ii: The Heretic Movies On Mainstreet
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJForget what you’ve heard. This is one of those movies that begs to be seen at our micro cinema. Strange, hypnotic, ambitious and completely unlike the original. A notorious misfire—or a misunderstood cult classic? You decide!
EVENT PREVIEWS
Teaneck International Film Festival Names Katie Camosy Recipient of 2026 Emerging Filmmaker Activist Award for "Gaslit"
(TEANECK, NJ) -- The Teaneck International Film Festival (TIFF) and The Puffin Foundation have selected director Katie Camosy as the recipient of the 2nd Annual Emerging Filmmaker Activist Award for her documentary Gaslit. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize and trophy and recognizes emerging filmmakers whose work embodies TIFF's guiding theme, "Activism: Making Change."
James R. Halsey Foundation Student Film Showcase to Take Place November 12th
(TRENTON, NJ) -- The James R. Halsey Foundation of the Arts (JRH), a 501c3 non-profit agency dedicated to providing quality arts education and mentoring to youth in the City of Trenton and greater New Jersey area presents the 2026 Student Film Showcase. Taking place on November 12th at the New Jersey State Museum Auditorium from 5:00pm - 8:00pm, this event features three films, written, directed, and produced by students, as well as a documentary focused on raising awareness on men's mental health, featuring authentic student voices and professional interviews.
Count Basie Center for the Arts to Celebrate Centennial with an immersive re-enactment of its opening night
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Count Basie Center for the Arts will cap its Centennial Celebration with an immersive re-enactment of its opening night on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 6:00pm. Patrons can expect an immersive theatrical presentation from the moment they approach the venue – from 'stars' of the era arriving in classic cars, Gatsby-esque fashion and flair, an authentic speakeasy experience with custom, era-specific cocktails and mocktails, 1920s hot jazz and more.
Learn about producing films with "Producing 101: From Script to Set with The Gig Media"
(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Interested in filmmaking? You can learn how to produce a film like a pro at "Producing 101: From Script to Set with The Gig Media" on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at Miraley Studios in Jersey City.
The Clairidge hosts Indie Film Showcase on November 21st
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- On Saturday, November 21, 2026, The Clairidge hosts a film showcase featuring three indie films - Wedding Night, Lady in the Mirror, and End of the Line: Brotherhood. Dive into three epic tales, one screen, and endless vibes at The Official Film Showcase. Showtime is 1:30pm.
