Crime Genre - analysis

1- Crime

2- Films under the category of crime are meant to resemble the life of criminals and how it is for them. These films may vary in the way they are represented. For example, some crime films are viewed in a realistic perspective with real – life criminals, but other movies are far fetched and use villains as the criminals. In these movies the crimes are usually praised and it is what the audience roots for. Crime films are also known as having exciting plots and their story lines usually revolve around alcohol, illegal substances, weapons, and robberies. A common aspect in between all crime films is that the main protagonist is usually a male who has had bad experiences during his life.

3- Crime films are all very similar in the techniques being used in each of them. Some of these include the costumes that the characters wear, the actions the characters do, the props used, editing/ sounds, and the setting. One of the main techniques is the costumes being worn by the characters. Many of the characters in these films use clothing that isn’t nice or expensive. They use these types of close so they are portrayed as being poor, with very little money. Also, in many crime films the characters are all shown wearing almost the same type of clothing to show that they are part of the same gang or group. Not only does the use of cloth help establish the characters personalities, but it also helps us make connection to what they will be doing. For example, if a character is seen as wearing all black and a ski mask, we know they will most likely be robbing something, but if the character is using a suit and holding a brief case, we know that they are most likely selling or buying illegal substances. Another common technique used in crime films are the colors. The colors in a crime film are usually on the darker end of the spectrum. This helps resemble a shady and evil presence in the movie. By having darker colors it helps establish the mood and the intentions of the people in the film. If we see the character in a dark background, with dark colors we know that he most likely has bad intentions. The props used in crime films are also extremely important production techniques. Most of the props used include weapons of any kind, masks, and illegal substances, such as drugs. All of these are implemented in crime films because they all have something to do with illegal acts and jail, which is what most people think of when they think of crime. Editing and sounds are also a major aspect in crime films. Editing and sound includes low lighting, angles, and music used. Low key lighting gives the movie mystery by not showing a characters entire face or body. Angles help establish power within the films, high angles make characters look weak and low angles make them look strong and in control. The music in crime films are usually playing in the background to help add mystery and suspense. Lastly, the setting of a crime film is a very important technique that establishes the mood of the story. In many cases, crime films are located in banks, jewelers, gang spots, police stations, and ghettos. These are in crime movies because some of them are common places that are robbed and the others, such as ghettos, are places people relate to when someone says crime.

4- Now You See Me: This film is a very well known crime movie because of the many iconic characteristics it includes. First of all, the colors in this film are usually shows as dark colors. For example the characters are usually shown wearing black or dark blue suits. Also, the background is seen as dark because most of their performances are at night or in a dark stadium. Another common aspect of this crime film is that money, banks, crimes, and cops are involved. In the movie, the main characters steal money from banks and then later give out that money in their performances. As I said earlier, banks and crimes are involved with crime films. Not only that, but the cops involved also are iconic of crime films. This is because the FBI is chasing the main characters because of the crimes they have committed. Also, a lot of angle shots with lighting is used to help establish the contrasts in power between the characters. Lastly, like most crime films the crimes committed by the main characters are usually supported by the audience. For example, instead of people going for the FBI, mostly everyone who watches this movie is rooting for the characters committing the crimes.

5- The Godfather: It is said to be one of the greatest films of all time. This film is one of the most common films brought up when talking about crime films. This is because of its iconic aspects involved in the film. One of the main characteristics of crime films is that they usually involve a presence of gang or group members. This movie is about a person who joins the mafia, which is a gang. In that gang the person experiences and views many violent and illegal actions. This is common of crime films because they all include some sort of illegal actions and gangs. Another aspect of this movie is the costume design. The characters in the movie are usually shown as wearing ties, button down shirts, and suits. Since they all wear relatively the same clothes, it helps establish that they are all together, hence the fact that they are in a gang. Not only that, but the type of clothes being worn helps establish a rich and crime style environment, which is common in a lot of crime movies. All in all, this movie holds many of the common aspects that crime movies acquire, such as lighting, costumes, characters, and props being used.

6-

1-    The Untouchables

2-    Baby Driver 

3-    Se7en

4-    The Girl in the Spider’s Web

5-    The Godfather: Part 2 

Works Cited
Knights, Megan. “Codes and Conventions of Crime Films.” Prezi.com, 6 Mar. 2014, prezi.com/s72bsiabcfqy/codes-and-conventions-of-crime-films/.
imogenmarsden Follow. “Conventions of Crime Films.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 28 Dec. 2016, www.slideshare.net/imogenmarsden/conventions-of-crime-films.