Very moving story of an aging Sherlock Holmes, perfectly portrayed by Ian McKellen who, alongside a fantastic supporting cast and through three different argumentative lines, delivers a chilling performance as the iconic character fighting against a mystified identity around his persona, as well as his loneliness and the perks of old age exemplified by the loss of his once brilliant memory.

A retired Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) returns home after a trip to Japan. Living in isolation, only assisted by housekeeper Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney) and her son Roger (Milo Parker), he spends the day taking care of his apiary while also trying to put into paper the developments of his last case. Due to his failing memory this will present itself as more challenging than expected, only the energy and excitement of the young Roger will encourage him to not lose faith and fall into despair.

The first thing that comes to light is the great performances by the entire cast and the great chemistry that they all have. But, at the end, the truth and thread that connects all actors is Ian McKellen. Either being with Laura Linney and Milo Parker, or during the scenes in Japan with Hiroyuki Sanada (who plays Tamiki Umezaki) or 30 years prior with Hattie Morahan (Ann Kelmot in the movie), the common denominator is Sir. McKellen, whose masterful interpretation of Holmes showing the B-side of the famous character as an insecure, grumpy and senstive man brings the best of all the actors that he works with making each scene captivating. Especially the scenes with Milo Parker exude a special tenderness and contrast in which you can feel both the need for Roger to have a figure as Holmes in his life and for Holmes to have someone next to him who treats him with kindness for what he is and not for what he is believed or perceived to be.

Those interactions and the mood andfeelings they evoke are elevated by a fantastic entire sound department. Both the sound design, especially in the scenes at the farmhouse where you can continuesly hear the birds singing, and score by Carter Burwell, perfectly accompanying many scenes, give an extra emotional punch to the images we see.

But, when it comes to images it also note-worthy the very well-crafted photography presenting three very different atmospheres (the London of the late 1910’s, the Hiroshima of after the bomb, and the fields and sea in Sussex), again allowing for great contrasts as regards to storytelling but also very visually perceptive making each scene feel different.

Of course, it is difficult to keep all storylines equally interesting, and although most probably the one developing in the farmhouse might be the most charming and enchanting while the one occurring in Japan feels a bit more extra and non-necessary, the good presentation, evolution and meeting point of all three, including the last case of the detective, feels organic and well-told compensating for most of the other irregularities.

Bill Condon’s Mr. Holmes ends up being a successfully touching story that goes past the use of the legendary figure of Sherlock Holmes to delve more into family drama territory, led by someone who in a later stage of his life will try to make up for what he had missed up to this point. The use of such a character will only be an initial excuse to grab your attention because, as the film progresses, you will start to be more affected and attached with the characters regardless of her name. The great build up and mood built around the picture will successfully streak a chord of anyone who watches it.