Although not conventional of the ‘classic’ category, unconventionality is the bread and butter of director extraordinaire Edgar Wright.
The creative powerhouse behind ‘Cornetto Trilogy' counterparts Shaun Of The Dead (2004) and The World’s End (2013), Wright has produced a number of blockbuster hits over his 25 year career. With his unique directing - often relying on jump cuts, Easter eggs and perfecting the art of the call-back - he’s managed to create his own unique style of cinema, thus earning his place on the 450 movie list.
Hot Fuzz sees Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg), a big-city Police Sergeant, be transferred to Sandford, a countryside location voted “Village of the Year” on numerous occasions. However, after a series of strange and seemingly linked murders, it’s up to Nicholas, alongside best friend/policeman Danny (Nick Frost), to discover the culprit. The movie also features a number of stellar supporting actors, such as Martin Freeman, Olivia Coleman and Jim Broadbent.
Whilst any of the Trilogy would be worthy of a mention, Hot Fuzz is a personal favourite of mine. It was a staple of my childhood, being a guaranteed hit at social gatherings, and embedding itself into my vocabulary. If I had a penny every time I used “yarp” as a positive response, or referenced that classic scene with Nick Frost failing to jump over a fence, I could probably afford a Cornetto or two.
This British take on the classic buddy-cop formula, chock full of in-your-face action with a not-so-serious vibe, makes it deserving of the list. It’s a movie which you should definitely check out when back in cinemas. I was only 7 when the movie came out, meaning that I definitely wouldn’t have made it through the theatre doors. However, if someone was to ask me how old I was, there’s only one way I would’ve reacted..
“When’s your birthday?”: “20th of May”
“What year?”: Every year
Tom Moorcroft
