Some folks won't get back in time for Christmas, this year. But spare a thought for those who never made it home at all, lost to the skies. That's what Disney + do with their new short film 'The Shepherd'. Guiding you through the legendary 1975 book of the same name, by the great Frederick Forsyth. Scripted and directed by 'The Wings Of The Dove' of 'K-PAX' director Iain Softley. A film that felt like John Travolta's 'Michael'. He's also in this too. The 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Grease' icon, not the charming, fallen angel he played who wanted to see the world's largest non-stick frying pan. Alongside 'Luther' and 'Rocketman' actor Steve Mackintosh. Backing up our lead and young fighter pilot Ben Radcliffe ('Masters Of The Air', 'The Witcher') whose just trying to make it home on Christmas Eve for the one whose waiting for him by the tree with the porch light on. Produced by Travolta and the 'Gravity' of the great Alfonso Cuarón, this grounding feature soars with subtle beauty. Taking wing on a traditional texture, but telling a timeless tale of the spirits of the sky that help lost souls find their bearings. Like Rudolph with his nose so bright, guiding Santa's sleigh tonight.
Aurora. Awash in the great Northern Lights like hue, the beauty before the brutality of Ben's character staring death down from the nose of his plane will truly terrify you. Heading home by the grace of God and a schedule change, this should have been a milk run, until engine failure serving as fate's laugh, put all hell to man's plan. The claustrophobic cockpit confines will really compel this idea to you. That is, until a confidant helps him on his journey as the words on the radio come into fond relief like the time you heard the brave, new world order of Captain America utter the immortal words, "on your left" to the one who carried the shield before him. This great British film taking us back to the 50s RAF is a crowning achievement worthy of a salute in the same fall we see the final rise of Her Majesty The Queen on Netflix. This HollyShorts Film Festival favourite will warm your heart like chestnuts roasting, this Yuletide season. Fans of 'Top Gun-Maverick' and co-star Glen Powell in the aviating 'Devotion' with Jonathan Majors from way back when will love this trip. Yet this shares the same flight plan with Chris Pine's true life vessel rescue of the underrated Disney epic 'The Finest Hours', guiding men home safely to shore from the lighthouse.
A Vampire meets a Mosquito in these friendly but turbulent skies, but no blood is lost as this film does anything but suck the life out of you. Lest we forget, this is a love letter sent by air mail to all those who dedicated their lives just so we could make it back around the constant calendar for another Christmas with the ones we hold dearest. Piloting this picture, a real and revelatory Radcliffe brings this right back to our door with a definitive performance, punctuated and direct. His last film was the Nick Frost dance-off 'Cuban Fury' from over a decade ago. You can bank on his next one being sooner and longer than this, less than a half of football screen time. It's the perfect short to remind you, between all the trimmings of turkey and tinsel, what the real meaning of Christmas is. Giving what we have to those less fortunate. The star-power of 'Saturday Night Fever' icon and mid-90s 'Face/Off' and 'Broken Arrow' legendary hero...and sometimes villain, John Travolta, will stop people from scrolling past the Plus menu. But it's the guardian influence he and a scene-stealing Mackintosh have on our young gunner that will really leave the most indelible impression. If you already know the Forsyth saga, then please don't let that eggnog leave your lips loose for those you share the sofa with. Because the reveal of this journey will move even more if it comes by a bittersweet and sobering surprise. Even if you see it coming a mile off. What 'The Shepherd' really herds you to in the light, is the remembrance of all our fallen soldiers. Something that will always be held in our hearts, long after the paper poppies have wilted on our lapels and lost their pins. This shepherd refuses to leave any of its lost flock behind. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'The Finest Hours', 'Red Tails', 'Devotion'.
No comments:
Post a Comment