Key Directors in the Crime Genre.
Martin Scorsese
Born in 1942 Scorsese is responsible for the directing of many crime films such as the famous Goodfellas, Gangs of New York and the more recent The Departed. Attending New Yorks University Tisch he quickly developed a world famous style which would be key to his success in the film industry. Scorsese's films are said to be works of art and however complex are still able to be considered "mainstream". Most of Scorsese's films have a running theme of community and this is a key theme throughout. From the close family in Goodfellas to the very close connection between Leonardo De Caprio and his employees in The Wolf of Wall street. Scorsese is said to be so indulged in the industry that he can recall most shots from most films he has seen and its because of this he is able to establish trends within genres allowing him to create a somewhat originality to his work which presents it as so poignant. An issue which has developed in quite a few of Scorsese's films is the error of some shots including camera equipment within the shot however Scorsese ensures to use the most raw and realistic takes to put into the finished article which sometimes can lead to these errors occurring however it gives Scorsese the most real look which he desires so much. Scorsese has a primary editor in which he uses in almost all his films, Thelma Schoonmaker.
In many of Scorsese's films he uses the freeze-frame effect, giving us time to focus on the character presented complimented by a background voice this creates a dramatic effect putting the character in a position of power creating a very powerful still. Scorsese is not a man for making a film that flows and will often ( unlike other directors ) use very abrupt cuts such as the "flash" effect which uses a bright flash bulb accompanied by a 1960s camera sound effect creates a very significant effect in his films. Overall it is safe to say Scorsese and Schoonmaker create a very impactful duo and together have created some of the most iconic crime films in history, which many other more modern films have taken great inspiration from.
Francis Ford Coppola
Born in 1939 Coppola is probably most renounced for his famous series of films, The Godfather. Coppola is an American film Director considered to be a central figure of the new Hollywood wave of film making. He released the first instalment of The Godfather in 1972 said to revolutionise movie making in the crime genre. The first film was so successful is won several awards and was commended by critics. The release of the second film in 1974 followed a similar path winning many awards and being equally successful. The third and final film was released in the 1990s and did not hit as hard as the other 2 however was still commended and won many awards yet again. Coppola is one of only eight film makers to win two Palme d'Or awards. Coppola much like Scorsese is also fascinated by family in crime films and community is a very big part of The Godfather series as it follows an Italian mafia family through their life. Cinematography in The Godfather was revolutionary as previously films were overly lit so they could be viewed in drive ins however The Godfather series used mainly low key lighting to show the hidden darkness within the family throughout and to remind us of their purpose. Coppola also worked heavily with sound design in his films and graphic violence to create very striking and shocking moments in the films yet giving the audience a realistic and raw feel to these moments, which in some ways was magical.
Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma is the final director I looked into and is the genius behind films such as "Scarface" and "the untouchables". Being also an American director during the Hollywood film wave he was also considered a main contributor to the wave and with a career spanning over 40 years its impossible to deny he his passion for film making. De Palma is said to have a fascination with death which does feature in almost all of the films he has produced so far and it is this fascination that has lead to the complexities and great detail embedded within his work. A common occurrence in De Palmas crime films is the glamorisation of a gangsters life such is shown in Scarface presenting the more irrational side to a criminal than Scorsese and Coppola for example. Graphic violence also spikes throughout De Palmas films in order to shock and horrify the audience and present a more realistic image the audience would be sure to find uncomfortable reminding them of the more practical side to the life of a gangster. The cinematography used by De Palma is very unique also as he tends to let the camera explore the location of the shot using often tracking shots and longer takes, he also uses birds eye view shots in Scarface particularly to show isolation when a character gets stabbed and is left for dead. The longer takes help to immerse us in the environment. De Palma was initially a physics student who was taken by the ways of film making leading him to leave the course of Physics and attend a theatre school.
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