Hot Fuzz (2007)
Hot Fuzz (2007)
It was inevitable after moving to England in 2006 that I would have to accept a few changes personally, professionally, and culturally. Among the latter I now look forward to the BAFTAs with giddy zeal, think that Hugh Grant and Sir Anthony Hopkins are the greatest actors of all time and that Helen Mirren and Dame Judy Dench are in a class by themselves. I also now see the unfairness behind Lord of the Rings pipping Harry Potter for all the awards in that “other” awards ceremony. And relevant to this piece I treat Hot Fuzz as a local film that is released here before making its way across to that other country across the Atlantic.
Hot Fuzz is almost as British a film as you can come across under the circumstance. The plot is simple on the surface. The finest cop London has to offer, Nicholas Angel, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force gets sent to a place where his talents won't be quite so embarrassing - the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning but overeager and overweight police officer Danny Butterman who is the son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman. The rest of the small police force in Sandford is no better or any much smarter and this only adds to Angel's growing frustration. However, as a series of grisly accidents rock the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems to be and the feel-good citizens and well-wishing neighbors, and the perfection of the whole place brings an uncanny fiction to it. As the intrigue deepens it's time for these small-town cops to break out some big-city justice.
Hot Fuzz is definitely not a one-man show even though Mr. Simon Pegg as the super cop Nicholas Angel is out and out the one constant in the film, it is the performance of all the various peripheral characters that makes Hot Fuzz a tremendously enjoyable film. This is one of those films where the director’s and writer’s characters have more to do than the actual performers. Directing credits go to Mr. Edgar Wright, and interestingly writing credits are shared between himself and the main lead Mr. Simon Pegg, making it apparent why the on-screen product was hilarious, appeared natural and spontaneous, and will have you in stitches every few minutes. Both of these extremely talented gentlemen in their mid-30s had also combined for the famous Shaun of the Dead (2004) and continue to contribute to the mixed genre culture of films in recent times. Though Hot Fuzz is a comedy there is, at the same time, a mystery to solve, and bad guys to be found and dealt with.
I do suppose there is an added charm to the viewer if he or she has resided in England for some time or has some knowledge of certain cultural and social norms in this country, but even without being aware of the same there is lots to enjoy about this film for everyone. The story keeps moving fluently and crisply and the cinematography is absolutely beautiful, making the viewer feel as if he or she has a place in the sleepy village of Sandford. Though the character sketches appear hastily presented and somewhat sporadic, in the end it becomes apparent that it is not significant in the scheme of things to grasp to any individual as opposed to a general group. The humor is witty and dialogue delivery quaintly British, which undoubtedly adds to the overall persona of the film on the whole.
So is this a classic, a must-watch for all, a keeper for the DVD collection? Well yes, and no.
Unfortunately Hot Fuzz has a certain dimension that will sadly justify its R rating and 15+ UK rating, and this is the bizarrely sudden manner in which gross violence and blood splattering appears in this film. Though I personally might have edited this to ensure Hot Fuzz may be enjoyed by all ages and persons with weaker hearts and stomachs, I suppose there is a following of such pyrotechnics of blood that will actually nod their head in approval. Don’t get me wrong, the scenes are actually quite funny, in a twisted kind of way that is (I and only one other person were laughing when a boulder fell on a character’s head and blood was spraying out of the head with the velocity and volume similar to that of a burst fire hydrant). Having said that however, they do tend to appear suddenly and somewhat inappropriately and can make you jump rather vibrantly, thus adding to their fuzzy charm.
If one can remember that this is a comedy and the actions are exaggerated to stamp home the point then such visual atrocities can be overlooked and the film enjoyed despite those fairly graphic moments. Despite those 3-5 scenes nothing can be taken away from Hot Fuzz in terms of performances, writing, editing, intelligent humour, relatable and interesting characters and some truly laugh out really loud jokes and scenes. If most British collaborations and productions are this smashing by nature then I think it is going to be an immense pleasure viewing, reviewing and writing about such pieces of celluloid presentation.
It was inevitable after moving to England in 2006 that I would have to accept a few changes personally, professionally, and culturally. Among the latter I now look forward to the BAFTAs with giddy zeal, think that Hugh Grant and Sir Anthony Hopkins are the greatest actors of all time and that Helen Mirren and Dame Judy Dench are in a class by themselves. I also now see the unfairness behind Lord of the Rings pipping Harry Potter for all the awards in that “other” awards ceremony. And relevant to this piece I treat Hot Fuzz as a local film that is released here before making its way across to that other country across the Atlantic.
Hot Fuzz is almost as British a film as you can come across under the circumstance. The plot is simple on the surface. The finest cop London has to offer, Nicholas Angel, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force gets sent to a place where his talents won't be quite so embarrassing - the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning but overeager and overweight police officer Danny Butterman who is the son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman. The rest of the small police force in Sandford is no better or any much smarter and this only adds to Angel's growing frustration. However, as a series of grisly accidents rock the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems to be and the feel-good citizens and well-wishing neighbors, and the perfection of the whole place brings an uncanny fiction to it. As the intrigue deepens it's time for these small-town cops to break out some big-city justice.
Hot Fuzz is definitely not a one-man show even though Mr. Simon Pegg as the super cop Nicholas Angel is out and out the one constant in the film, it is the performance of all the various peripheral characters that makes Hot Fuzz a tremendously enjoyable film. This is one of those films where the director’s and writer’s characters have more to do than the actual performers. Directing credits go to Mr. Edgar Wright, and interestingly writing credits are shared between himself and the main lead Mr. Simon Pegg, making it apparent why the on-screen product was hilarious, appeared natural and spontaneous, and will have you in stitches every few minutes. Both of these extremely talented gentlemen in their mid-30s had also combined for the famous Shaun of the Dead (2004) and continue to contribute to the mixed genre culture of films in recent times. Though Hot Fuzz is a comedy there is, at the same time, a mystery to solve, and bad guys to be found and dealt with.
I do suppose there is an added charm to the viewer if he or she has resided in England for some time or has some knowledge of certain cultural and social norms in this country, but even without being aware of the same there is lots to enjoy about this film for everyone. The story keeps moving fluently and crisply and the cinematography is absolutely beautiful, making the viewer feel as if he or she has a place in the sleepy village of Sandford. Though the character sketches appear hastily presented and somewhat sporadic, in the end it becomes apparent that it is not significant in the scheme of things to grasp to any individual as opposed to a general group. The humor is witty and dialogue delivery quaintly British, which undoubtedly adds to the overall persona of the film on the whole.
So is this a classic, a must-watch for all, a keeper for the DVD collection? Well yes, and no.
Unfortunately Hot Fuzz has a certain dimension that will sadly justify its R rating and 15+ UK rating, and this is the bizarrely sudden manner in which gross violence and blood splattering appears in this film. Though I personally might have edited this to ensure Hot Fuzz may be enjoyed by all ages and persons with weaker hearts and stomachs, I suppose there is a following of such pyrotechnics of blood that will actually nod their head in approval. Don’t get me wrong, the scenes are actually quite funny, in a twisted kind of way that is (I and only one other person were laughing when a boulder fell on a character’s head and blood was spraying out of the head with the velocity and volume similar to that of a burst fire hydrant). Having said that however, they do tend to appear suddenly and somewhat inappropriately and can make you jump rather vibrantly, thus adding to their fuzzy charm.
If one can remember that this is a comedy and the actions are exaggerated to stamp home the point then such visual atrocities can be overlooked and the film enjoyed despite those fairly graphic moments. Despite those 3-5 scenes nothing can be taken away from Hot Fuzz in terms of performances, writing, editing, intelligent humour, relatable and interesting characters and some truly laugh out really loud jokes and scenes. If most British collaborations and productions are this smashing by nature then I think it is going to be an immense pleasure viewing, reviewing and writing about such pieces of celluloid presentation.
posted by SIAII at 7:20 PM
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