Raised on a steady diet of crime novels, a flock of rural English sheep set out to solve their eccentric shepherd’s murder.
So goes the premise of Sheep Detectives, the new Hugh Jackman vehicle released in the U.S. by MGM/Amazon.
On paper, the absurdity of the premise reads like ill-conceived slop bound to go down in infamy as an unmitigated critical and box office disaster. Theoretically, the film’s only draw for my own tastes and sensibilities is star Hugh Jackman, one of the greatest actors of his generation and my favorite actor of this century. But if the trailer was to be believed, Jackman’s shepherd character would be killed off within the film’s first 15 minutes. (SPOILER: He was indeed.) Jackman aside, it seemed as though creatively bankrupt Hollywood was scraping the bottom of the narrative barrel.
Yet, when I became aware of the Sheep Detectives existence through one of its trailers earlier this year, I was struck by the whimsical tone and charm radiating from the screen. The film seemed unique, warm, funny, and technically sharp. Shockingly, it looked enjoyable, if not great.
As I discovered upon researching, the film is adapted from author Leonie Swann’s novel Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story (or Glennkill: Ein Schafskrimi, if you prefer the original German title), an international best seller that had already proven the story’s widespread resonance.
So, while on vacation this weekend, I skipped the line for the latest mid-tier Star Wars flick and ordered one ticket for Sheep Detectives. I am pleased to say, the film is an absolute triumph, exceeding my highest expectations.
The flick wastes no time in establishing its premise, with Jackman’s Michael Caine-ian voiceover narrating the scenes of his daily shepherding life, revealing the names and personalities of his top sheep, and establishing his relationships with key townsfolk, most of whom will become murder suspects within a few more minutes of screen time….
Cole Powell is an arts and media commentator, and award-winning singer/songwriter from. Jayess, Mississippi, USA, with degrees in computer technology, liberal arts, and theology. https://colepowell.net