[audio:/podcasts/pdm16.mp3]
Download Episode | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via RSS
Story:
A city cop tries to bring professionalism to a sleepy little town that turns out to be not that sleepy. Graphic violence ensues. The tagline says it all: “They’re bad boys. They’re die hards. They’re lethal weapons. They are…HOT FUZZ.”
Detective: Nicholas Angel (and his partner Danny)
Release Date: February 2007
Writers: Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg
Source: Original screenplay.
Mystery Analysis:
Detective as protagonist?
Jenny: Yes, introduced right off the bat, his POV all the way through the movie except for the murderer’s skulking scenes.
Lani: Yes, and he’s active from the beginning, god bless ‘im.
Murderer as antagonist?
Jenny: Yes. It’s Murder on the Orient Express, the Whack-Job Countryside versionl
Lani: Yes. All fifty-four of them.
Conflict created by mystery/murder?
Jenny: Yes.
Lani: Yes, not that we know it until 40 minutes in.
Fair play with all the clues given?
Jenny: Yes. The movie is absolutely larded with clues disguised as jokes.
Lani: Yes, we’re given everything the detective is, and only one or two things more – witnessing the crimes – but that’s okay.
Solved using deduction, not luck?
Jenny: Yes. We know what Nick knows and we’re stunned when Nick is stunned.
Lani: Yes; Nick comes to everything on his own, using clues given.
Everything pulls together in the end?
Jenny: Yes. There are no loose ends in this movie.
Lani: Does it ever. They may have been self-indulgent in this movie, but one thing you can count on Simon Pegg to do is tie up all the loose ends.
Story Analysis & Ratings:
Jenny says: 5 Pops
Mystery: 5, Craft: 4, Suspense: 5, Romance: 5, Comedy: 5
Lani says: 5 Pops
Mystery: 5, Craft: 4, Suspense: 5, Romance: 5, Comedy: 5