Based on the novel ‘3 Bags Full’, the runaway best movie of any sort so far this year is the Sheep Detectives. It’s appropriate for families, and really for young and old of all ages. Hugh Jackman plays a shepherd, with a field full of interesting sheep, all of whom he has named and to whom he reads murder mysteries. And then mysteriously, George is found dead in his sheep pasture, and this is when some of the sheep must leap into action to solve the whodunnit, because the sole policeman seems to be as dumb as a bag of hammers, though that will change during the course of this less than 2 hour film, which in my book should win some Oscars. And while we are at it, these sheep are frankly not the dumbest creatures featured in this film— humans are. Of the other human stars, Emma Thompson plays a seasoned lawyer. The movie was largely filmed in two places– White Pond Farm in Surrey, and for the quaint village scenes various places in Hertfordshire. The CG stuff was done in Shepperton Studios in the U.K.
This movie not only provides us with a good detective story, and adorable animals, but also raises in a basic but good way the issues of life and death. There is one theological scene where God is said to be a good shepherd like George, but also bread which people every week in church! We are also informed that people stay alive after death in the memories of those who loved them.
Frankly this movie cruised by too fast, as is the way with excellent films, and it is both moving and heart-warming at the same time, and provides a certain amount of philosophical grief counseling. I would say to one and all— go see this film. Take your family and friends and then have a good discussion about life and the afterlife, as well as the relationship between humans and animals. You will be enriched in the process.
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