To begin, the content of this genre often deals with moral decisions, right and wrong, along with the protagonists choices in dealing with the situations presented. Obviously an element that is present in this genre is a crime occurring or at least being suggested. And lastly, it is a common trend for there to be a male character with a difficult past as the protagonist.
Mise en scene is an important element in the production of crime and gangster. The location is often designed after one of two things, urban streets or an isolated location. As for the costume, it is often used to portray the protagonists past. If the person were to be from the streets they would sport baggy clothing, but if they were from wealth they would have a suit. The lighting is also used to portray a boring or realistic feeling.
Another element of production used is editing and camera. A combination of camera and editing techniques are used to advance the plot, keep story interesting for the viewer, and portray a sense of realism. The camera techniques used to do this are very basic. Pans and tilt are used to show location and items crucial to the plot. Medium and Over the shoulder shots are used to progress plot and also give sense of realism. On the editing side of things, smooth fades are used to progress the story from location to location, while quick cuts are used to keep the viewer interested to the film.
The advertising for the criminal and mafia genre, just like any genre, is varied from film to film, but a common trend in the advertising is a sense of innocence. In many of the advertisement, the protagonist is portrayed as a criminal with a just cause which delves into the moral decisions mentioned earlier. The protagonist is often shown as people doing crime out of necessity rather than desire. There are of course outliers that do not fall into this group, but the majority of criminal films advertise the protagonist as a good person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2z857RSfhk
The film baby driver is a good example of a basic crime movie. The film is of a criminal who no longer wants to be part of a gang but is forced to do illegal actions because a loved one is threatened. This film uses slow camera movements during the preparation of a heist to show the realism of a situation, but in an escape scene there are many fast cuts to keep the viewer entertained. The costume design of the character implies a difficult childhood with the baggy clothing, that is juxtaposed by the directer of the group wearing a suit implying power. This film embodies what a basic crime film is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszwuX1AK6A
In a different perspective of the crime genre, Wolf of Wall street is an example of a more complex and story driven aspect of film. The camera work is just used to advance the story and give the feeling of reality, as this is based on a true story, but the Mise En Scene is where the development is impressive. As the protagonist progresses through the story, how wealth is indicated by the costume and set design. At the beginning of the film the simple suit implies a regular business man, but as the film progresses and our protagonist acquires more wealth, his costume implies large amounts of wealth. The set also showed his progression and wealth. He begins in a small stock exchange and after cheating hundreds, he returns to wall street. The reason this film takes the criminal genre from a different perspective is that our protagonist isn't portrayed as innocent. He never feels guilty for the crimes committed and it is showed in the film in that way. This film is unique in the genre of crime.
The Thomas crown affair
The Italian Job
American Hustle
Bonnie & Clyde
John Wick
Tower Heist
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