Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here. I’m gonna cut to the chase: I’ve seen it, and it is fucking good. I’m not going to write my review yet. I’m going to see the film a few more times before I do that. It’s opening just after Valentine’s Day... if you live in the UK. February 16th. That’s not too far off. But for Americans, the film isn’t until April 13th. And when it arrives, it’s going to be a limited release to start. Now, by limited, I’m not sure what they mean. Could be 30 screens. Could be 800 screens. Could be anything inbetween. And I’m not sure what the plans are for possible expansion, but I’m guessing if the film becomes a hit, they’ll roll it out wider. Or at least, I hope that’s the plan. SHAUN OF THE DEAD is a favorite of mine. My first viewing of it was a total surprise. I loved SPACED, and I thought the title of the film was clever, but making the jump from the 30 minute form to a full-length feature isn’t always an automatic slam-dunk. And I confess... I think Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg are preposterously cool people. Edgar’s a genuine film fanatic, a great storyteller. I’ve had several opportunities to hang out with him, and our conversations are never specifically about his films. Sure, when I saw him in London this trip, one of the main topics of conversation was HOT FUZZ, but in discussing that film, you have no choice but to discuss everything that’s all mixed up in the movie’s DNA. This isn’t parody; it’s too rich, too character-driven, and too heartfelt for that. Edgar Wright speaks fluent movie-geek, and his films do, too. There’s a shorthand here, the way he uses clever twists on familiar forms to underline a moment or to make an ironic point, and talking to him and Simon together, I get the feeling they’re going to be doing this for a long, long time. Let’s see how Universal does at getting the word out in the US. Rogue’s got the movie... now let’s see them sell it. This isn’t a niche genre film like a zombie comedy... this is a mainstream action film that just happens to be funny as shit. Part of the way they’re going to try to sell it is by putting Edgar, Simon, and Nick Frost (the secret weapon of this film) in front of people as much as possible. I probably spent four hours with Edgar over two days, and about an hour with Nick and Simon, and even at the end of a long day of junketing, trying to unwind in a bar, there’s this great easy chemistry between them that just kept me rolling. Here’s an example of what I mean by putting the guys in front of people. I got this press release for this upcoming chat event:
Chat LIVE with Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost!
ATTENTION ALL HOT FUZZ FANS -- here's your chance to get the inside scoop on all things Hot Fuzz!
Log on at the Working Title site on Monday, January 29th at 10:00 AM US Pacific / 1:00 PM US Eastern / 18:00 PM GMT to join a live web chat with the team behind Hot Fuzz.
Come armed with your best questions and wittiest insight!
Official Site
U.S. Trailer
QuickTime High
QuickTime Low
Windows Media High
Windows Media Low
Official Synopsis: Hot Fuzz is the action-packed new comedy from the makers of the hit movie Shaun of the Dead. With the same razor-sharp combination of humor and attention to detail they used to breathe new life into the undead, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have set their sights on Action Movies for their next uniquely funny vision.
Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is the finest cop London has to offer, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force. He’s so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel’s superiors send him 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 police officer Danny Butterman (Nick Frost). The son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent), Danny is a huge action movie fan and believes his new big-city partner might just be a real-life "bad boy," and his chance to experience the life of gunfights and car chases he so longs for. Angel is quick to dismiss this as childish fantasy and Danny’s puppy-like enthusiasm only adds to Angel’s growing frustration.
However, as a series of grisly accidents rocks the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems and as the intrigue deepens, Danny’s dreams of explosive, high-octane, car-chasing, gunfighting, all-out action seem more and more like a reality.
It's time for these small-town cops to break out some big-city justice.
Written by Pegg and director Edgar Wright, Hot Fuzz reteams Pegg and Frost alongside a killer cast. In addition to Oscar winner Jim Broadbent, the stellar lineup of talent includes Paddy Considine (In America), Steve Coogan (Night at the Museum), Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights), Martin Freeman (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), Paul Freeman (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Bill Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest), Lucy Punch (The Class), Anne Reid (The Mother), Billie Whitelaw (The Omen), Stuart Wilson (The Mask of Zorro), Edward Woodward (The Equalizer), and plenty of surprises!
You should log on for the chat. And I hope Working Title.com allows them to go out unfiltered. When we saw them after their first day at their London junket, they were laughing about a comment that got censored from a podcast they were interviewed for.
Simon could barely stop laughing as he said, “They asked each of us to describe ourselves in two words. Nick’s answer was ‘massive cunt.’”
You can’t put a filter on these guys. That’s half the fun. Nick’s even more of a joy as Danny Butterman than he was as Ed, and he seems to be in rare form in person as well. You only get chemistry like this among old friends, people who are totally at ease with each other.
You can also find a new high-def version of the trailer online at the Apple site right here.
Right now, I don’t know how I feel about this film in comparison to SHAUN OF THE DEAD, but I think it’s at least as good. For the moment, I look forward to seeing it and discussing it further in the months ahead.
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
