Ian McKellan gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as an aging Sherlock in the film Mr. Holmes. I enjoyed seeing him in something other than a new X-Men or Hobbit movie. While the film lacks the edge of Guy Ritchie's recent incarnations of the character, Bill Condon's film sees the good detective grappling with an unsolved case as well as his own psychosis. Laura Linney is great as Holmes' housekeeper Mrs. Munro, as is young Milo Parker as her son Roger whom Sherlock takes under his wing as a beekeeper's apprentice. At times the film feels somewhat loosely plotted, but that allows ample room for McKellan to shine. At the same time, I enjoyed how the subplots weigh on the detective's psyche. Nothing feels indulgent or bloated about this time in Holmes' life. It's worth seeing for the magnetic McKellan alone. Hopefully his performance is remembered for awards consideration this year. Check local theater listings.
B
The Stanford Prison Experiment has been an indie darling ever since its debut at Sundance this year. It's easy to see why. If you understand a bit of the history behind this true-life case, it's all the more engaging to contemplate the film's adherence to realism. As extreme as some of the actions and reactions between the prisoners and guards are, nothing ever feels far-fetched. The emotional intensity, timeliness, and timelessness of the themes in this story (power of authority/lack thereof, man-vs-man, human ethics) makes this the quickest 2 hours I've spent with a movie all year. Everything from casting to production design serves to turn the audience into prisoners themselves in the best possible way. The movie is chock-full of up and coming talent, but the standout is Michael Angarano who play-acts the roughest, toughest, meanest prison guard of the bunch. He practically disappears into the part. You just want to sock him in the face, as you're meant to. I simply loved this film. I can't wait to watch it again, and it's without a doubt a must-see 2015 release. Check your OnDemand listings.
A
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