It seems period dramas used to be a staple part of my film going experience, but in recent times aside from World War 2 set movies, I seem to be seeing fewer and fewer. Maybe it’s because the same old stories seem to be told time and time again, with diminishing returns – the recent versions of Great Expectations and Wuthering Heights (despite some bafflingly ecstatic reviews) left me feeling cold, and frankly, bored.
What I can’t resist, though, is any film featuring Sherlock Holmes. From the wonderful old Basil Rathbone series in the last 30s and 40s (admittedly the first two of those could be considered period pieces), through to the marvellous Hammer version of The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1959, and the meticulous small screen portrayal by Jeremy Brett, I’ve devoured them all. Nowadays the character will be familiar through the two Robert Downey Jr starrers (the first of which was very good, the second hindered by too much heavy handed direction) and the brilliant BBC series.
Here is a very different portrayal of the master detective by Sir Ian McKellen. Holmes, now in his 90’s has retired to a cottage in Sussex to look after his bees. With his memory increasingly failing him, Holmes tries to piece together the fragments he remembers of his last case. He knows it has an unsatisfactory outcome, and it prompted him to give up his career, but he can’t recall the facts. His old friend Watson, had documented the case as usual but had spun it to portray Holmes’ efforts in a good light, and the detective is determined to set the record straight. As his friendship with the young son of his housekeeper blossoms, he begins to recall the details. As the frail Holmes, McKellen is superb. Showing the detective as much less self assured than usual – although still aloof – it is hugely impressive.
Credit must also go to the make up artists who convincingly make him appear 30 years younger in the flashback scenes of that fateful case. Those scenes make up some of the best in the film, aided by the film’s second excellent performance, that of Hattie Morahan, as the woman at the centre of the case. Unfortunately the case itself is a bit of a damp squib, and requires little of Sherlock’s amazing deductive powers. So, you are left with a film about Sherlock Holmes devoid of the fun of seeing him outwit criminals and the bumbling police, although he does have a chance to resolve how an unfortunate event occurred towards the end of the film.
Aside from that disappointment, this is an intriguing and enjoyable film thanks to the performances (Laura Linney is also good in a slightly underwritten role of the housekeeper), a smart script, and Tobias A. Schliessler’s beautiful filming of the Sussex countryside.
Rating: 7 out of 10