A Comparison of the Establishment of Genre and Narrative in Two Crime Films

A Comparison of the Establishment of Genre and Narrative in Two Crime Films

In this essay I will compare how genre and narrative are established

in 2 crime films. The main iconography of this genre is fairly easy to

identify; props such as guns, latex gloves, sirens, rain are used

frequently in Hollywood crime films such as Se7en (1995). The

conventions of this genre are also fairly easy to recognise:

detectives with long trench coats, the killer being the least likely

character, huge urban settings and signifiers like dead bodies have

successfully been used in films like Training Day (2001) and Along

Came a Spider (2001). The crime genre has been most successful in

creating hybrid and sub-genres. For example, a film such as Lethal

Weapon 4 (1998) is hybrid with action and has a romantic subplot. Bad

Boys (1995) uses both action and comedy as hybrid elements with crime,

as does Rush Hour (1998).

Crime is a mainstream genre. However it appeals to both mainstream and

independent producers. This is because genre can be dealt in different

ways: it can be used to explore universal themes such as good vs evil,

‘crime doesn’t pay’, etc. or it can deal with hard-hitting and

controversial subjects for example Pulp Fiction (1994). Either way it

is successful with the mainstream and niche audience.

The box office hit of such films as Minority Report (2002) are clearly

mainstream, produced by major studios, 20th Century Fox and Dream

Works; and stars Tom Cruise, which suggests it has high production

values. The film also incorporates themes of good vs. evil and right

triumphing over wrong. Another explanation for the film’s mainstream

s...

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...It had to be successful because of the handful of

stars. Naturally people were to come and see this, as there are so

many stars that the audience will like at least one to watch the film.

In Ocean’s Eleven’s title sequence we learn that George Clooney is the

main character as is Brad Pitt but we also learn that this is a crime

film as it opens to a prison cell.

The Bone Collector was more successful in making use of most obvious

signifiers and conventions as it clearly conveys them: the crime

scene; the police uniform; the murders and so much more. I personally

enjoyed Ocean’s Eleven because it humoured me and the variety of stars

meant that they each had a quality to keep me interested in different

ways. The Bone Collector was good but for me personally, I find the

suspense daunting and I would rather not watch it!