Mr. Holmes

"It’s tempting to mouth the lazy summation “if you like Sherlock Holmes you’ll like Mr. Holmes.” Tempting, because it is true. Yet that would also do a disservice to this sumptuously crafted, artisanally layered and genuinely inspired addition to the detective’s pantheon."

"The more vital subject of Mr. Holmes turns out to be our need for stories themselves and, in particular, the role of fiction as an escape from the pain and loss of everyday life."

"A majestic McKellen rescues a safe script, giving us a fresh look at an icon even the most casual viewer will be (over)familar with."

"Sir Ian McKellen is a pleasure to watch as an elderly Sherlock Holmes, though the drama isn't as compelling as it might have been."

"This is Holmes intentionally slowed down to a hobbling, reflective, end-of-life pace: dare we call it refreshing?"

"The film's plots are soft and flimsy, and they don't mesh as gracefully as they might, but they do serve as an adequate trellis for Mr. McKellen's performance, which is gratifyingly but unsurprisingly wonderful."

"It is an elegant if slight piece of work, touching and intriguing by turns, but hampered structurally in that it relies on two separate flashback sections."

"Driven by an impeccably nuanced performance from McKellen as a solitary 93-year-old man enfeebled by age..."

"A gentle blend of detective mystery and amiable character study. Contains scenes of mild pottering."