While clearly set in the '80s, 'Shoreleave' carries the flavor of a noir flick of years past. Plot points revolve partly around a nightclub, include the music of Frank Sinatra, and feature plentiful shady characters. After an opening scene of inventive misdirection, the story picks up with Billy (Phil Daniels) coming home on shore leave from the British Navy, having learned that his brother Michael died two weeks prior.
The narrative follows Billy as he tries to piece together what happened to his brother, while also becoming enamored of a singer, Myra (Joanne Whalley), at the local nightclub. Overall the plot is quite fine and cohesive in its primary story beats, striking some rather dramatic notes. However, it's glaring that there's some connective tissue missing. How Billy gets from point A to point B in his amateur investigation is nebulous at best. It's not even made clear exactly what happened to his brother - the How is distinctly imparted, but not the Why. It's hard to wholly engage with this short when pieces are missing.
From a technical standpoint 'Shoreleave' is fine. Watching in 2021, the limitations of 1987's equipment and production values are evident, but it's generally put together well. The writing and direction feels somewhat forthright, giving the cast clear instruction of how to comport themselves for a given scene, but for what it's worth, I think the assembled actors are fine.
I don't know. It's not bad. But even having entered with no knowledge of the short beyond Whalley's involvement, I had some minor expectations. And for lack of greater active engagement, stemming specifically from faults in the narrative writing, I find myself a little disappointed. It wouldn't have taken much for writer-director Allen Irvine to improve what their small feature could be; while 'Shoreleave' is sufficiently entertaining, I'm definitely left wanting.
Recommend particularly if you're a fan of the cast (as I clicked "play" for Whalley); it's a decent enough view if you come across it.
