Displaying items by tag: Bella Ramsay

THE SHEEP DETECTIVES

UK/Ireland, 2026, 109 minutes, Colour.

Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Emma Thompson, Hong Chau, Conleth Hill, Nicolas Braun, voices of: Brett Goldstein, Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey, Chris O'Dowd, Rhys Darby, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tommy Birchall.

Directed by Kyle Balda.

No, not inquiries about sheep difficulties. The sheep themselves are the detectives. And, very enjoyably so.

Shepherd George, living in a caravan outside a typical Miss Marple English village, reads detective stories to his sheep. Leader, Lily, usually solves the mystery while others always think it is the maid! They are an interesting flock, a range of different characters, some woolly eyes, some awkward, the aristocratic ram, two rams who like to butt themselves and vehicles, and an aloof leader, Sebastian, whom George has rescued from being the target of dogfights in a carnival. They speak, a range of star voices, varied personalities, some frisky young lambs, enjoying life, devoted to George.

George is genial – he is played by Hugh Jackman. And, then he is murdered.

The local policeman is a bit dimwitted, Nicolas Braun from Succession, but an eager young visitor, journalist, Nicholas Galitzine, ever-ready to help him. And there is the imperious lawyer who comes to read the will, Emma Thompson. Then George’s daughter from the US also turns up, Molly Gordon.

Of course, the sheep are determined to find out who killed George.

The enjoyment of the screenplay relies on the murder mystery, Agatha Christie-style scenario, the listing of suspects, presence, opportunity, profit from the murder. Lily takes charge, clues are found, and she finds all kinds of ways of trying to communicate with the policeman while unable to speak to him.

It is all very entertaining, the suspects, the local butcher, another Shepherd, hotel keeper, local vicar, all with motivations. But, eventually Lily works it out, find ways of communicating with the policeman, mystery solved! There are enough clues for audiences to work out who the murderer is – but probably a good enough mystery not to work out the actual identity of the murderer!

The sheep realise that they are often considered woolly-headed. This is a film to vindicate the sheep and their abilities, and a nice underlying moral, that the sheep reject winter sheep because normally they are all born in spring and summer. A little winter lamb is active in Lily’s manoeuvres – and, of course, welcomed finally into the flock.

Who would have thought that the sheep could have been so entertaining?

1. An entertaining murder mystery? Scenario, clues, based on popular novels, the victim, suspects, investigation? And the contribution of the sheep and the detective work?
2. The English village, the fields, the sheep, the caravan, shops, church, butcher’s, the hotel? The countryside? The musical score?
3. The humour, the MGM lion bleating, the sheep and their various characters, the butting twins, the conversations, jokes, the shepherd who read detective stories to the sheep, Lily’s solving them, the sheep and the murder investigation, fear at crossing the road, the chicken crossing the road, always present, Mopple and his accidents, collaboration with him?
4. George, Hugh Jackman and his charm, reading the detective stories, his invention to help the sheep, his naming all the sheep, Lily after his wife, Sebastian, their characteristics, encouraging them? His death? His reappearances, his ghost for Lily, for Rebecca?
5. The situation, Ham as the greedy butcher, Caleb the shepherd, plans to work with Ham, Beth, the hotel, stealing the letter, the Reverend and George’s donation of the money? The Reverend trying to track down George’s children?
6. The arrival of Elliott, young, enthusiastic, reporter, camera, all the photographs, the crash, returning, collaboration with Tim, and helpful, with the sheep, with the lawyer, ousted from the reading of the will? The sheep and the clues, the chemical on his hands, the hair for the DNA, the revelation, the son from South Africa, the phone call to the lawyer, his visiting his father, the murder? His trying to escape?
7. Rebecca, the daughter, the correspondence, arriving, at the hotel, the visit to her father, losing the hoop, the sheep finding it, leading Tim to find it in the field? Her lies, the visit to her father, the reading of the will, the alibi, her arrest? the winter lamb and the blue and the red on the hooves, Lily helping, the line floor?
8. Tim, the only policeman, slow, ambitious, dignity, procedures, searching, the return, with the sheep? Gradually improving? The collaboration with Elliot? Interrogation of Rebecca? Led by the sheep, working with the sheep, realisations, the arrest?
9. The sheep, the voices, the characters, colours, Lily, leader, solving the mysteries, the clues, prejudice against winter lambs, her judgements, providing the final clues? Sebastian, the Carnival, the brutal fight with the dogs, a winter lamb, alone, saved by George? His stern comments? Saving Lily and Mopple from the dogs, his death? (And the issues of death, forgetting deaths, thinking sheep became clouds, facing the reality of death?)
10. The range of sheep, their characters, the superior knight, the woolly sheep, the young sheep, the playful sheep, the comments and questions, wanting to forget? The little winter lamb and rejection, participating in the case, Lily welcoming him into the flock?
11. The film working well as a murder mystery, characters and suspects, presence, gains, opportunity? And the animation – and the rehabilitation of sheep as stupid animals!

CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET

UK, 2023, 101 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, David Bradley, Jane Horrocks, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Mohammed, Miranda Richardson.

Directed by Sam Fell.

Who hasn’t enjoyed the films from Aardman Studios? Happy memories of Wallace and Gromit from the past, Shaun the Sheep, and Chicken Run.

It is something of a surprise to find that it is 20 years since the first Chicken Run. This sequel has had something of mixed reviews, some joy at another Chicken Run film, some complaints of how slight it is. And it went to Netflix streaming.

Fans of the original will remember Ginger and Rocky and their adventures. Here they are again, this time voiced by Thandiwe Newton for Ginger and, instead of Mel Gibson, American Zachary Levi for Rocky (somewhat incongruous with the rest of the accents being so British, some so very very British)

Once more, we are at the Chicken Run with the tyrannical Mrs Tweedy, voiced by Miranda Richardson again. This time Ginger shows her defiance and the overthrow of Mrs Tweedy. But, this time, the family is different, with the hatching of a little chicken, Molly (Bella Ramsey) and her growing up rather quickly, wanting some independence, her mother wanting what is best for her but being strict, Rocky sometimes a bit ditzy.

The initial action is the rebellion against the Chicken Run and everybody migrating to a paradise island where they are all very happy. The second action is a new, reinforced concrete building for mass production of eggs and chickens, especially for the making of nuggets for takeaway restaurants. And, who should be in charge along with the odd Dr Fry but Mrs Tweedy herself. They have so many chickens but control them with a neck brace which takes away their minds and fills them with false contentment, ready to go up the chopping block and come out nuggets!

While everybody gets a chance for some kind of heroism to confront this evil regime, the main action goes to Molly, very enterprising, using her wits, tracking down the villains, catching up with her mother as well as Rocky and other members of Ginger’s friends. And, there are the two comic rats who get into all kinds of strife.

So, the action eventually is more or less as expected, happy family, happy chickens, happy rescues..

1. The popularity of Aardman studio films? Of the original Chicken Run?
2. A sequel, 20 years later, continuation of the story, the characters, new adventures?
3. The style of. Stop-Motion animation, characters, situations? The voices? British, except for Zachary Levi, American as Rocky?
4. Audience knowing the situation, at the chicken run? Knowing the characters and their past?
5. The situation, Mrs Tweedy, harsh and bossing, her appearance, her voice, her severity? The response of the chickens, the response of Ginger, defiance, toppling her, the uprising?
6. Ginger, familiar, a leader, her group of friends, her relationship with Rocky, their pride with Molly? Molly, egg, little chicken, her rapid growing up?
7. The expedition, all the chickens, finding refuge, the peaceful island? Life?
8. Molly, growing up, venturesome, wanting freedom, her friendship with Frrizzle? Her parents, protective?
9. Ginger, sympathetic, leadership, supportive of Rocky? Rocky, the touch of dotting us? The concern about Molly?
10. The new chicken run, elaborate, large, set down, the chickens in the captivity, collars, control of their minds? Willingly to give themselves up to be nuggets?
11. Molly, with Frizzle, out for the adventure, their discoveries, Molly and her sense of mission, the other chickens, following Dr Fry and the restaurant entrepreneur? Plan of action? Frizzle, her being captured, the collar and the loss of her mind?
12. The mission, to rescue Molly, to free the chickens? Ginger, her group, the various adventures, lost, trapped, freed, Molly and linking up with her father, then her mother? Wanting to free Frizzle?
13. The comedy with the rats, their deliveries, bargains, part of the adventure, with Rocky, silly and sensible, the knockabout comedy and pratfalls, verbal comedy, participation in the adventure?
14. Dr Fry, sinister, evil chicken, his mask, his legs, his voice? Working with Mrs Tweedy? The visit of the entrepreneur, the demonstration, his return, the large order?
15. The adventures in the mechanised chicken run, the photograph of the guard and holding it up for security, the guards trying to stop the chickens? The various ruses, deceptions, the dangers?
16. The confrontation with Mrs Tweedy, her ruthlessness, enmity with Ginger, the final confrontation? Defeat?
17. Rescue, achievement, happy ending?