Movie Review - Mr Holmes

Mr Holmes

2015

The Cast

Sherlock Holmes has been retired for thirty years.  Upon finally reading Dr John Watson's stories for the first time along with watching a "Talking Picture" depicting his last adventure, Sherlock decides to write the truth about his last case.  Dr Watson had always been liberal with the facts, for entertainment's sake.  Though, the last case is niggling at Sherlock's deteriorating mind...  It must have been very important as it made him turn his back on the profession he loved.  Will there be enough time to get it all down on paper before his memory fails completely?

This is a nice "What If?" story.  Writer, Mitch Cullen (who wrote the novel) and screenplay writer Jeffrey Hatcher do no disservice to the character Arthur Conan Doyle created.  This is still the same Sherlock Holmes of the stories, though older, but maybe not wiser.  

Ian McKellen was a perfect choice for this aged character and he gives a brilliant portrayal.  Though it's Laura Linney who surprised me the most.  For me, she's never been a draw.  However, I am pleased to say that as Mrs Munro, Sherlock's housekeeper, she is great.  There was a slight moment when we first meet her and her accent slips into across between American and North Country.  However, this is only for a few seconds.  From there on in her accent is pretty good.  Not perfect, though, not bad.  One of my favourite scenes in the film is when Mrs Munro is discussing her late husband with her son, Roger (Parker).  When Roger asks her if she's good at making up stories, her reply and the look on her face, along with the pregnant pause, really does show a whole range of emotions in just a few scant seconds - very well done.  Milo Parker is a very strong actor who had to contend with working with a great cast, which he did seamlessly.  The director, Condon, did a great job of not letting the character of Roger steal the show, which could have easily happened.

Condon also does a fantastic job of filming.  Using camera shots to add atmosphere and show locations to their best advantage.  The part where Sherlock follows Anne Kelmot (Morahan) through London is a perfect example.  The scene at the train station where she makes a pay-off is one of my favourites in the film.  What with the steam filling the platforms and the shots looking between the moving carriages.  It really does set the scene well.

To be honest, I really couldn't find anything wrong with either the story or the film.  As I've said before, I am not a fan of flashbacks.  Though here they are used to tell Sherlock's last case as he tries to remember it and write it down.  Then you have the remembrances of Japan where Sherlock has recently been looking for a remedy to his failing memory.  These are expertly told and done in such a way that adds power and depth to the story... not confusion, which is the case with a lot of films.  In a lot of movies, flashbacks add a disjointed feeling to the pace and structure.  Luckily for the viewer, Condon is a master at weaving them into the story with seemingly effortless ease.

This film is a must-see for all Sherlock fans, Mystery Lovers, Thriller Fans, and Armchair Detectives everywhere.  This hasn't made it into my top ten movies, though I have to admit I'll watch it again... I may even consider buying a copy.

I give this retired detective a criminal rating of 8.25 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Death Goes To School

Death Goes To School

1953

The Cast

Apart from the '50's sexism, which for the most part is now comical, this isn't too bad a murder mystery.

When the body of one of the teachers is discovered dead on the Girlschool's grounds the police are called in.  Enter DI Campbell (Jackson) and Sergeant Harvey (Kydd) to solve the crime.  However, they are initially worried about solving the case as, "who can figure out the reasons in a woman's mind?"... problems we still suffer from today.  They needn't have worried though as Miss Shepherd (Murray) is on the case too.  Being a teacher at the school and a lover of mystery novels she takes it upon herself to investigate.

One of the good things about this story is that unlike many sleuths, Miss Marple and Father Brown as examples, the police actually utilise Miss Shepherd.  It's nice that the "outside" investigator isn't a thorn in the polices side but a help.

Gordon Jackson is in his element as a hard-nosed don't hold back copper.  You can see elements of his character in The Professionals, George Cowley, coming through in his portrayal of DI Campbell.  So this remembrance, for me, helped to submerge me into the film, right from his appearance.

This is a well scripted and written story.  There are plenty of suspects to be the murderer... in fact, most of the staff at the school could be guilty of the crime.  The way the story unfolds is nicely done, though the narration from Miss Shepherd is a little irksome.  However, I've never been a fan of the narration - unless it's "The Twilight Zone" style.  I think narration should be shown by the camera and not heard.  If somebody says, "They were shocked to..." then show them shocked.  They're actors, the director should use their skills.

That said though, I would recommend this to all whodunnit buffs and murder mystery lovers.  It's a short film, at just over an hour in runtime, so would be good for a quick fix.  A good afternoon flick for the armchair detectives out there.

I give a '50's sexist 5.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Book Review - A Shot In The Bark

A Shot In The Bark

By C A Newsome

2013

9.5 / 10

Don't be fooled that this is a story about canines solving murders.  No; this is a well crafted and structured mystery whodunnit novel, which I wasn't expecting after I read the blurb on Amazon.  Boy, was I happy to be surprised(?)

I usually don't choose a book if I don't like the opening sentence, then the opening paragraph, as I believe this should give the reader an insight into the story they are holding.  To be honest, I did pick the book for the silly cover and the possibility that the story might raise a smile or two... and hopefully a laugh.  Just recently I've been in serious need of both, so I clicked on the novel's cover on my Kindle...

It was the prologue that gave me the insight the novel may be just a little bit darker than I was expecting as it's the psychopath's viewpoint and the reason behind a previous killing.  This was a wise and daring move by C A Newsome as it adds a deeper element to the story.  In fact, without this reoccurring ingredient, the story would have been a lot weaker.

However, Carol Ann Newsome's lighthearted style of writing helps to keep the reader interested and reading at a steady pace.  As the story progresses she grows and enriches the characters making them more realistic and believable.  To this outcome, I really liked how she gives the reader expanded details of the work which her main character, Lia Anderson, undertakes.  As a son of an artist, this brought me into the story a little more and I could relate a bit more to Lia... as well as giving me a sense of warmth and happiness at remembering my father - Thank you.

Even though this is categorised as a Lia Anderson Dog Park Mystery I loved how Newsome left the detective work to the detectives.  Lia doesn't become an amateur sleuth being helped by her wonder dogs.  The dogs are only secondary to the story, they add a realistic and relatable element... and yes at times you may find yourself "Ahhh"ing.  As for the Dog Park itself, this is where the murder is committed and therefore all of its patrons are potential suspects and witnesses.

I must admit I didn't like the opening paragraphs of the story as they felt a little trite and the flow was slow and awkward, as she introduced Lia to her readers.  This, however, is short lived as by the time you reach the next part of the chapter Newsome has found her footing.  The climax of the story feels rushed, though this could be because of the previous space which encompasses the rest of the novel and I'd grown used to.  Plus in real life, things have a way of creeping up on you and then exploding so fast they appear to have happened in mere seconds.  However, it would have been nice had Newsome slowed down the pace to build tension and suspense which I think the scene needed, instead of speeding it up to build excitement.

Then there's the conclusion which quite a few people didn't like...  Once again, for me, it added another sense of reality and I wasn't disappointed by it at all.  To the contrary, I applaud Newsome for making the decision to go this route.

I would gladly recommend this book to everybody who likes murder mystery whodunits.  Though be forewarned you may not agree with or like the conclusion of this story.

Free Kindle Book - A Shot In The Bark by C A Newsome

Movie Review - Northern Lights

Northern Lights

2009

Stephanie Germain Productions / Mandalay Television / Alberta Film Entertainment / Nora NL Productions : Lifetime Television / Tandem Comunications

6.25 / 10

The surprising thing about this movie is the quality of the cast and the acting within.  I was mostly surprised by Leann Rimes who can hold her own in the female lead here and fits in well.  I've heard her superb vocal ability and never knew she has thespian talents also, based on this film I would quite happily watch anything else she's done.

The only cringeworthy scene was when Meg Galligan (Leeann Rimes) tells her mother Charlene (Rosanna Arquette) that her father, Charlene's true love, is dead.  Arquette goes way over the top at this news and totally wrecks the scene; though to be fair, Mike Robe who directed should've stepped in to give her some better direction and tone down the theatrics a little - sometimes less can be better.

That said, the rest of the film is very well acted by all, though I have to say Jayne Eastwood who portrays Mayor Hopp is on top form.  I first saw her in Haven as the no-nonsense coroner, and she has the same kind of believable tenacity in this role also, a joy to watch as she brought a smile to my face.

Robe does a decent job of keeping the mystery and suspense rolling as the story of the new Cheif Of Police Nate Burns (Eddie Cibrian) in Lunacy, Alaska finds he has a fifteen-year-old murder case to solve; worse yet, the murder victim is his love interests, father; worst still, it seems that most of Lunacy could be the potential killer.  You're never too sure as the viewer as not many clues are given, in fact, you have to be pretty observant and quick-sighted to spot and remember a certain scene to work out the killer's identity before the Chief of Police.  The resolve of the story is quick, it may have been better to slow this section down and create a little more tension.

Not having read the Nora Roberts novel I cannot say how well it's been adapted, though in its own right Janet Brownell the Teleplay writer does give the audience one hell of a story filled with believable and interesting characters.

If you like murder mysteries then you should like this one, it is definitely a curl-up with your loved one on a Sunday afternoon movie, while the world passes by outside.  Worth at least one viewing.