CODES AND CONVENTIONS

1. THE GANGSTERS ARE USUALLY DARK AND SINISTER, AND OPERATE IN THEIR OWN WAY NOT THINKING ABOUT THE LAW

1.1. FOUND IN DONNIE BRASCO WHERE DONNIE BEATS UP THE CLUB-OWNER AND TAKES HIS CAR FOR LEFTY

2. THE GANGSTERS COULD OFTEN BE SEEN AS LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM - BECAUE OF THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

3. THE GANGSTERS ARE USUALLY SEEN AS WORKING CLASS PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO AN IMMIGRANT GROUP

3.1. FOUND IN SCARFACE AS THEY ARE A MEXICAN RACE IN AMERICA

4. IT'S USUALLY A PREDOMINATELY MALE CAST WHO ARE VERY VIOLENT

4.1. FOUND IN SCARFACE, RESERVOIR DOGS, DONNIE BRASCO

5. THE WOMEN ARE TREATED AS SEX OBJECTS, BUT COULD ALSO BE QUITE VIOLENT

5.1. IN GANGSTER SQUAD GRACE IS SEEN/TREATED AS A SEX OBJECT

6. MISE-EN-SCENE

6.1. VIOLENCE, GUNS AND BLOOD

6.1.1. FOUND IN THE SCARFACE FIGHT SCENE BETWEEN POLICE AND CITIZENS

6.2. MONEY, SUITS AND POLICE

6.2.1. ICONIC SUIT IN THE GODFATHER

6.3. CHASE SCENES, FRAUD AND THEFT

6.4. SEX, PROSTITUTION AND CRIME

6.4.1. FOUND IN GANGSTER SQUAD

6.5. SUITS, CIGARS AND GAMBLING

6.5.1. FOUND IN RESERVOIR DOGS BEGINNING

6.6. SET IN URBAN CITIES WITH BACKSTREETS AND ALLEYWAYS

6.6.1. FOUND IN SCARFACE WHERE TONY AND HIS FRIEND HAVE RETURNED BACK TO MEXICO IN THE BEGINNING

6.7. THE COLOURS ARE OFTEN DARK - GREY/BLACK/RED

6.8. BLOOD/SCARS, MAKE-UP - RED LIPSTICK FOR LADIES

6.8.1. FOUND IN SCARFACE - MAIN CHARACTER (TONY

7. CAMERA MOVEMENTS

7.1. EXCESSIVE USE OF CLOSE-UPS

7.1.1. THE START OF GODFATHER

7.2. SLOW CAMERA MOVEMENTS

7.2.1. AGAIN THE FIRST SHOT OF GODFATHER

7.3. CAMERA TENDS TO PAN OR FOLLOW

7.3.1. FOUND IN RESERVOIR DOGS BEGINNING SHOT

8. THE CHARACTERS CAN BE DRIVEN BY THE WANT OF WEALTH AND POWER

8.1. IN SNATCH THEY WERE ALL CHASING A VALUABLE DIAMOND - AS THEY ALL WANTED IT TO SELL IT

9. SOUND

9.1. DEEP, LOW MUSIC

9.2. CRUDE BUT INTELLIGENT DIALOGUE

9.2.1. FOUND IN THE DIALOGUE IN RESERVOIR DOGS (BANTER BETWEEN GUYS) AT BEGINNING

9.3. SOMETIMES HAVE FUNKY, GROOVY MUSIC TO CREATE JUXTAPOSITION OR TO ENTERTAIN THE AUDIENCE

9.3.1. FOUND IN SCARFACE, INBETWEEN SCENES

10. EDITING

10.1. SLOW EDITING

10.2. QUICK ACTIONS

10.2.1. IN SNATCH WHERE THEY RAID THE JEWISH BUILDING

10.3. LONG CUTS

10.3.1. FOUND IN RESERVOIR DOGS BEGINNING SHOT

11. THE GANGSTERS GAIN MONEY AND POWER BY TAKING IT - IT'S SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

11.1. THIS IS FOUND IN SCARFACE WHERE THEY KILL THE OLD GUY TO GET A GREEN CARD

12. THE GANGSTER WILL PRETTY MUCH BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT HE IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE, BUT IS ALWAYS DOOMED BY BECOMING A VICTIM TO THE POLICE OR ANOTHER GANGSTER

12.1. THIS IS FOUND IN SCARFACE WHEN TONY SUCCESSFULLY MAKES IT TO AMERICA

13. SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY HOW MUCH THEY HAVE: MONEY, CARS, POWER, WOMEN ETC.

13.1. FOUND IN GANGSTER SQUAD AS MICKEY OWN MOST OF THE TERRITORY IN L.A.