Mr. Holmes is a must-see for Sherlock Holmes fans

                           ON DVD November 17, 2015

Movie:     Mr. Holmes

Rating:    PG

Grade:   A

In a Nutshell:    Super Sleuth Sherlock Holmes is retired and doesn’t live on Baker Street anymore.  This is not an action-packed Sherlock Holmes like we've seen done by Robert Downey Jr. or Benedict Cumberbatch, but rather, a thoughtful drama that showcases Ian McKellen as an aging, grumpy detective who still has one more mystery to solve and something to learn.

If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, this is a must-see film that will add even greater depth to your love of this timeless character.  I attended a walking tour in London all about Sherlock Holmes.  So, yeah...

Uplifting Theme:

·          “Logic doesn’t solve matters of the heart.” – Holmes

      -  "The understanding of facts doesn’t mean you understand their meaning." - Sherlock

·            There are 3 examples of life and death: Holmes' bees, Ann Kelmot, and Sherlock Holmes.  Ann later explains,  “The dead are not so very far away.  They’re just on the other side of the wall.  It’s us on this side who are all alone.”  – Ann Kelmot (Hattie Morahan)

·          

Things I liked:

·         I liked the musical score immediately.  Thank you Carter Burwell.

·         Ian McKellen does an outstanding job as Sherlock Holmes.  Who doesn't love the man who brought us Gandolf?  Did you know that he is the recipient of 6 Laurence Olivier Awards, a tony Award, a Golden Globe Ward, a Screen Actors Guild Award, 2 Academy Award nominations and 4 BAFTA nominations and 5 Emmy nominations?!  This film could easily add another nomination to his prestigious list.

·         Laura Linney’s accent is a bit off, but I have always liked her. It sounds like a mix of English, Welsh, and Scottish.  What is it?

·         Young Milo Parker plays Roger, the son of Sherlock’s housekeeper....a young star in the making.

·         Beautiful English countryside.  Look for the White Cliffs of Dover.

      You only see Watson's legs and hands.  Clever.

·        

Things I didn’t like:

·          It’s very slow-moving.  Then again, so is the elderly Sherlock Holmes.

        

Funny lines:  

·          “When you are a detective and a man comes to visit you, it’s usually about his wife.” – Sherlock

·         “I told Watson if I ever write a story, it will be to correct the million misconceptions created by his imaginative license.” – Sherlock

·         “Did you find what you were looking for in Japan?  The mysterious Ashley prick?” – Doctor

“The prickly ash.” – Sherlock

·         “Fiction is worthless!” – Sherlock

·          

Interesting lines:

·         “I think I was real once, until John made me into fiction and then after that I just had a choice: play the part as he had fashioned it or become its contradiction.” - Sherlock

·         “My study is my sanctum sanctorum…private place.” – Holmes

·         “I’ve never had much use for imagination.  I prefer facts.” – Sherlock

·         “Death, mourning, grief…they’re all commonplace.  Logic is more rare.  I dwell on that.” – Sherlock

·         “Her death made me see that human nature was a mystery that logic could not illuminate.” – Sherlock Holmes

  “Don’t say everything you think.” – Mrs. Munro

·          Tips for Parents:

·          This is not a fast-moving mystery that kids will get a kick out of, but more of a “thinking man’s movie” that might bore them.  The target audience is probably an older audience, and true Sherlock buffs.

·     Murrder, death and suicide are the prominent themes, which you may not want young children to watch..

·         Sherlock informs his simple housekeeper, “Exceptional children are often the product of unremarkable parents.”   

·         The bombing of Hiroshima is represented in a very sobering way.  Your kids may not be familiar with this aspect of history.

Sherlock Holmes movies to add to your collection:

 

The Rewrite inspires you to create your own life story

Movie:   The Rewrite

Unrated, although I would probably give it a PG-13 rating

1 hour 46 minutes

Grade:    B+

In a Nutshell:   I stumbled upon this romantic comedy on an airplane, flying home from England this week.  It was given a very limited release in US theaters in February 2015, and then was immediately out on DVD only one month later.  Hugh Grant gave a special greeting to Delta passengers on the airline release, explaining “It’s a comedy.  At least, I think so.”

Hugh Grant is an expert at a stammering, dashing, befuddled leading man.  The dialogue is witty, quick, and charming.  The story isn’t completely original, but the message is one worth hearing again.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Like a carousel, keep moving forward.

·         “As long as you’re alive, you can forgive and be forgiven.  Once you’re dead, it gets significantly harder.” – line from Keith’s movie “Paradise Misplaced”

·         “Selfishness must always be forgiven, because there is no cure.” Mansfield Park by Jane Austin

·         Your 3^rd Act hasn’t been written yet.

Things I liked:

·         I adore Allison Janney in anything.  She plays Professor Weldon, an uptight Jane Austin expert who is hilarious and steals all her scenes.  Merchandising for this movie will revolve around her character and this "What Would Jane Do? item.

                                                

·         J.K. Simmons is such a likeable actor, as is his character in the film.

·         When is Oscar winner Marisa Tomei ever going to start aging?

·         There are a lot of funny moments.  My favorite is the faculty cocktail party.

·         I’ve never been to Binghampton, New York, but it’s apparently one of the Top 10 most cloudy/rainy cities and home of the “Speedy Sandwich.”    Want to see what one looks like?
                                      

·         I thought it was sweet when Keith said “My son is the only thing I had a hand in producing that didn’t need a rewrite.”

·         Other movies referenced in this movie areMarty and Dirty Dancing .

Things I didn’t like:

·         I know some people can’t stand Hugh Grant, but I quite fancy him.  Didn’t that sound British?  In real life, he may be a scoundrel, but I like a lot of his movies.

Funny lines:

·         “Nice alliteration.  I’m an English major.” – Chloe (Olivia Luccardi)

“I thought I recognized a fellow sufferer.” – Keith

·         “U.S. Marine Corps.  I like to follow the rules.” – Dr. Hal Lerner

“Writers Guild of America.  I feel the same way.” – Keith

·         “Dr. Lerner?  You must have an opinion on this.” – Keith

“I have a wife and 4 daughters.  I have no opinions.” – Dr. Lerner

·         “When I was young, I thought having the perfect Shakespeare quote for any given situation would be helpful.” – Jim Harper (funnyman Chris Elliott)

“It’s surprisingly unhelpful.” – Keith

“Yeah, it seems to really annoy people.” – Jim

·         “Give teaching a shot.  It gets its hooks in you.  You’ll see.” – Jim

“With all respect, I don’t believe anything worth knowing can be taught in the classroom and I intend to do as little as possible while carrying on this charade.” – Keith

“Yeah, if I gave it any thought, I’d probably feel the same way.” – Jim

·         Professor Weldon scolds Keith for not acting like a professional teacher and Keith assures her “I’ll watch Dead Poets Society to prepare.”   GREAT movie!  I highly recommend it.

·         “What about my car?” – Keith

“It’s a Hyundai.  It’ll be there in the morning.” – Holly

·         “Are you trying to fill a spiritual vacancy with alcohol and young women?” – Holly

“Yes.” – Keith

·         “I’ll work on reality TV…either as a writer or a contestant.” – Keith

·         “I’m hoping there will be something else.  Much more else.” - Keith

Writing tips learned from the movie:

·         As an author, I aspire to be a great writer.  As a realist, I know I have a long way to go before anyone would ever call my work “great.”  There is an interesting conversation between Keith and his agent.  She asks him “You know what J.K. Rowling said?”  He quips “Where did I put my last billion?”  She tries to inspire him by explaining “J.K. Rowling said that failure was the best thing that ever happened to her because it freed her from the inessential; it allowed her to focus on the thing that mattered most – writing.”

·         “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightening and a lightening bug.” – Mark Twain

·         Keith explains to his screen-writing students what a protagonist is by asking “What is his goal and how will he overcome obstacles?”

Tips for Parents:

·         In the airplane version I saw, all mild profanity was bleeped out, as well as a soft blur that was used to cover up someone flipping the bird.
 ·         Keith sleeps with a young girl, but you only see him crawl out of bed.

Great movies about inspiring teachers: