Kyle Balda’s new family film The Sheep Detectives pulls off a move George Miller was dissuaded from including in his 1998 sequel Babe: Pig in the City — killing off its human farmer figure — but that premise-setting death aside, it’s generally a warmer and gentler take on talking animals venturing beyond their green pastures and into the big, scary human world. The Sheep Detectives may take the shape of a murder mystery, but as our discussion highlights, it taps into big ideas about memory, grief, and empathy, all while maintaining a sly sense of humor. It’s a tonal balancing act of a different sort than Pig in the City, which we bring back in for Connections to discuss these two films’ respective approaches to animal endangerment, interspecies communication, and making non-verbal creatures talk. Then in Your Next Picture Show we offer a sampler of recommendations for ostensible children’s entertainment that is darker than it initially appears. 

This episode is presented by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Regal Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off.

Please share your thoughts about Babe: Pig in the City, The Sheep Detectives, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.

Next Pairing: Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu and Kenji Misumi and Robert Houston’s Shogun Assassin

Kyle Balda&rsquo;s new family film The Sheep Detectives&nbsp;pulls off a move George Miller was dissuaded from including in his 1998 sequel&nbsp;Babe: Pig in the City &mdash;&nbsp;killing off its human farmer figure &mdash; but that premise-setting death aside, it&rsquo;s generally a warmer and gentler take on talking animals venturing beyond their green pastures and into the big, scary human world.&nbsp;The Sheep Detectives&nbsp;may take the shape of a murder mystery, but as our discussion highlights, it taps into big ideas about memory, grief, and empathy, all while maintaining a sly sense of humor. It&rsquo;s a tonal balancing act of a different sort than&nbsp;Pig in the City, which we bring back in for Connections to discuss these two films&rsquo; respective approaches to animal endangerment, interspecies communication, and making non-verbal creatures talk. Then in Your Next Picture Show we offer a sampler of recommendations for ostensible children&rsquo;s entertainment that is darker than it initially appears.&nbsp;
This episode is presented by⁠ <a href="https://www.regmovies.com/join-unlimited" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.regmovies.com/join-unlimited&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779244825850000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Xwg4WTMplB-UNULPIVf8n">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Regal Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off.
Please share your thoughts about&nbsp;Babe: Pig in the City,&nbsp;The Sheep Detectives, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:comments@nextpictureshow.net">comments@nextpictureshow.net</a>, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.
Next Pairing: Jon Favreau&rsquo;s&nbsp;The Mandalorian and Grogu&nbsp;and Kenji Misumi and Robert Houston&rsquo;s&nbsp;Shogun Assassin

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).

New and classic movie reviews and top 5 lists.

Filmspotting

Burden of Hoof, Pt. 2 – The Sheep Detectives

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0c12cfb9-a10a-4c72-b9e2-b44f002da5a1/transcript