Ian McKellen as MR. HOLMES Is Elementary My Dear

MR. HOLMES is a new film featuring an aging Sherlock Holmes eloquently played by the irrepressible Sir Ian McKellen.  Sir McKellen is an actor of royal stature. He's been honored with 6 Olivier Awards & 2 Acad. Award noms.  MR. HOLMES should garner McKellen a 3rd Oscar nom. for his curmdugeonly, sagacious & sympathetic role as the iconic, fictitious detective.  The film is produced in part with BBC Productions.  It has the makings of a MASTERPIECE PBS show.  It stars  MASTERPIECE's hostess Laura Linney, a 3X Oscar nom. actress, Roger Allan who plays an inspector on a PBS series and Phil Davis, currently seen in MASTERPIEC's POLDARK.  Linney is Mrs. Munro, a WWII widow, who is the overburden housekeeper and caregiver to Holmes and her young son, Roger (Milo Parker.)  Keep your eyes open for future starring roles by this fine young actor.  The film is set in England in the late 1940's.  An aging Holmes returns to his country, sea-side home to ruminate over his last unresolved case which has filled him with remorse.  Holmes who (may or may not be suffering from senility) is in poor health.  The movie cleverly weaves several past & present mysteries with flashbacks to London & Japan.  Holmes final case ended tragically leaving him marooned and melancholy.  Roger proves a formidable, intellectual peer.  The two collude into friendship under Holmes' mentorship & shared interest in apiaries.  Sherlock Holmes fans will have more to love with newly revealed elements to his character; regrets, loneliness and affection. Those new to Holmes will be smitten.  Of course, the amazingly observant & omnipotent Holmes remains steadfast & on course. This lush film enhances Sir Conan Doyle's legacy with intrigue, poignancy & beauty.  "Human nature is a mystery that logic cannot illuminate."  Clearly, this is a rare gem of the cinema.