Hot Fuzz

Hott Fuzz is a British Comedy that came out in 2007. This film follows Nicolas Angel, played by Simon Pegg, who is an exceptional Police Officer (Not Policeman) that gets transferred from the city to a quiet little town in the country. On the surface this town is a perfect little slice of heaven, however after awhile Angel starts to realize that something strange is going on. I won't go any further with the plot because I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who haven't seen the film.

The cinematography of this film is quit original however. On almost every transition from scene to scene it feels like you are watching people gear up for war even though most times its just a glass being filled with cranberry juice or someone buying something from a store. It is strange and doesn't make a lot of sense however its a comedy and its intentional. I have to say I love it. It is a huge change of pace from what I am used to watching.

I originally saw this film way back in 2007 when it came out however it was just added to Netflix and I would recommend it to friends if they haven't scene it. Its a great watch and fun to see with friends. Also the film Shaun of the dead is another comedy by the same people and that is another film worth a watch in my opinion.

This is England

This is a British film that focuses on the life of an average boy going up in England during the 1980s. The story revolves around the boy becoming part of a gang, the skinheads. According to Wikipedia "A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in London, England in the 1960s and then soon spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, and later to other countries around the world."

This is not a film that glorifies the country of England. In fact it makes the viewer aware of how even countries that seem to be wealthy have poverty and gangs. this film contradicts and makes fun of ideas commonly thought of when thinking about England. In the title sequence there is a compilation of images of common perceptions of England mixed with images of poverty, war, and riots. This not only aids with the setting of the film but also helps communicate the plot. 

The film is rather slow and focuses strongly on racism and oppression. There is a heavy focus on white supremacy in the film and it is not communicated subtly. It is very in your face and evokes the audience's emotions on the topic. 

 

Even though this is not an uplifting film and it seems to end abruptly I believe that it is very entertaining story that focuses on issues that are important in our culture. A powerful force behind getting this point across is the protagonist "Shane Meadows" who is the young boy played by Thomas Turgoose. It is very powerful seeing a young boy being adopted into the violence of white supremacy.