In the more modern adaptations of the british crime culture in movies there is a difference in the gangster conventions that show the audience the flashy life side of being part of a gang. In the modern takes on gang life, characters arn't going to high class parties, or dressed in dapper suits, or own big houses with beautiful women walking around as if owned by Hugh Hefner. They show gang life in the negative way by alot of violence, robbery and crude motives. But the same conventions that run through the classics and the modern british crime movies is the theme of revenge and respect. In the classical movies revenge is the main motive for the protagonist to battle through a road of other criminals to gain personal justice, and it is also shown in modern gang movies as charcaters may kill because it happened to someone close to them. This also links in with respect as in classical movies the crime was organised and reasons to kill or get rid of someone were 'reasonable' and usualy had something to do with disrespect, and is also similar in the more modern movies as characters who arn't seen as the mental violent ones have their own breaking point if someone crosses the boundaries of respect and cause harm to their familes. The theme of respect is used in the modern gang movies but sliding away and the characters are starting to forget what it is but it still exists also by the ladder of success as a certain lower status criminal charcater would look up to the more higher statused criminal as they worked themselves to the top. I think the theme of respect is starting to fade away as more characters in modern movies kill with no actual motive and it's sort of a dispointing for the classical movies as it shows although crime was in play, respect was above it, and everyone knew if you would harm someones family then it would be fair play if something happens to them back. Another theme is that is used in modern and classical is the stereotypical character or protagonist that has a moral eptithany and gains a different scope to view world and understand the negative aspects of the crime he is doing and living in. This usually happend when something happens to themself or to something or someone they love, which reinforces the consequences of getting involved in crime. It also reinforces the idea that you die how you began, as you can't hide from your past in a big mansion or behind an expenisve suit, and when you reach the pearly gates of heaven your fast car, big parties, and your three girlfriends cant help you un-do you sinfull past.This also contrasts the different functions of society of the two different ages, for example the gang culture in the 60s and 70s shown in Get Carter, and the gang culture that we live in now shown in Ill Manors. Society in the 60s and 70s England was more controlled and functioned more not in a good way but everyone had their own place. For example crime was for adults, not children, not many movies in the 60s and 70s show children of the age of 13 carrying knives and killing other children for the envious reason of stealing their trainers or their phones or belongings. Adults were much more mature and completely understood the defenition of respect and the boundaries of respect and to not touch another man's family. But in modern England crime starts of at a young age and mostly throughout their teenage years are involved in crime. This shows the society we live in and a sort of metaphor how everything is falling apart due to the lack of government, poverty and community segregation of different classes. Crime in british modern movies is pursued not for the outcome of money or the flashy life, but to survive and because children are living in the crime and cant do anything not to be led in the world of crime. Audiences react differently when watching the modern gang movies as they are shocked and are glad they are not involved in stuff like that as it doesn't drag their intrest in any way. Whereas in the classical gang movies crime is an advertisment for 'the sweet life' promoting all the wonderful things you could have like fast cars, beautiful women and dominating power.
No comments:
Post a Comment