Conventions of the Crime Film

The genre CRIME has a variety of sub-genre's, which makes the crime genre itself very diverse. Choosing a sub-genre was next in line but first we watched a few examples of different openings which allowed us to look at the key conventions for the sub-genre and what we can see throughout every one of them. 


We looked at 6 different types of Sub-Genre's for crime.


Film Noir
Film Noir usually associates with an unlucky man usually working as a detective, insurance seller, law firm, etc. This man is usually vulnerable and meets a woman also known as the Femme Fatale which brings him to his downfall. Not every Noir goes on this structure but they have a variety of conventions which are recognisable. For example

• Chiaroscuro Lighting/Low Key Lighting/Shadows and Contrast
• The Protagonist/Femme Fatale/Ingenue
• Urban Cities/Demi-Monde
• A range of High and Low distinctive angle shots
• Theodora Hats/Trench Coats
• Cigarettes/Bars/Clubs/Police Stations

I.E Out Of The Past, Murder My Sweet, The Third Man, Double Indemnity


American Gangster
This sub-genre contains a range of different kind of gangs which one of the most popular in the American/Italian Mafia which usually tells the story of family and violence and what goes on among gangs. Themes to include are:

• Mafia/Mobsters/Drug Distributing gangs/Weapon Dealers
• Hierarchy amongst Gangs/Family Orientated
• Violence - Guns/Fight Scenes
• Suits
• Over exaggerated Sounds
• Richness and Wealth
• Film Noir-esque lighting

I.E Godfather, Goodfellas, Millers Crossing, Ichi The Killer, Alpha Dog


British Gangster
Like the American Gangster films, they focus on groups of people. The British Gangster films can focus on any age group or what was going on at the time. It may not even feature a group of 'gangsters' but people that get involved with the wrong side of life. Usually the British Gangster genre is gritty and less glamourous than the American version of Gangster films. Also this sub-genre can include the detective them.

• Teenage Groups/Razor Gangs/Mobsters/Drug Dealers
• Run Down Rural/Urban housing/Council Estates/Abandoned Buildings
• Hierarchy/Classes/Criminal Code
• Softer Lighting
• Popular Tourist Destinations/Big Cities
• Policeman/Detectives/Crime Solving

I.E Snatch, Lock Stock, Brighton Rock, Bullet Boy, Kidulthood, Sherlock Holmes




Spy
Usually the spy film sets one man or woman on a quest to find out information or go undercover. It is quite high tech compared to other sub-genres and has distinctive features.

• Terrorism/Authority/Politics
• One Protagonist - Undercover/Group of people
• Power Struggles
• High Impact Action/High Tech
• Invading of a country
• Crime as a family

I.E James Bond, Stormbreaker, The Sum of All Fears


Comedy
This genre of it's own brings comedic values and conventions to the crime genre. It's aim to mix violence and comedy to generate a different impact on the audience. 

• Over Exaggerated Violence
• Violence used as humour
• Strong use of swearing
• The main protagonist isn't generic (Pathetic or Useless)
• Power Struggle
• Car chases - With added Humour

I.E Austin Powers, Hot Fuzz, Johnny English, Pink Panther


Action
Action used crime with high level special effects and stunts and usually shows one man going against the system or against a group of people (Terrorists, Drug Dealers, Distractors). The ending is usually that the good wins and the evil loses.

• Rural/Tall buildings/Far Away Destinations
• One Man/Woman (The Hero or someone in the wrong place at the right time).
• Terrorism/Politics/Government/War
• Car chases and Stunts/Explosions 
• Low Key Lighting when needed
• Weapons/Power Struggle
• Loud Sound/Theme Song

I.E Die Hard, Mission Impossible, Kill Bill, Taken


Convention As A Whole

• Violence - Weapons
• Over Exaggeration
• Authority/Hierarchy
• Criminal Code
• Coppers/Good guys
• Range of High/Low angled shots
• Lighting/Chiaroscuro
• Setting

These are what me and my group will have to stick to whilst planning our opening sequence to make sure it fits in with the genre of Crime.