by Moe Zilla

Created on: February 04, 2008

American media loves crime. The most popular TV shows focus on criminal investigations, but it seems like some of the most popular movies focus on the criminals!

The "Law and Order" series has been running for over 17 years, and it's even spawned four more series that all follow the identical pattern. (The criminal isn't initially revealed, only the investigators.) But the victims and suspects are also introduced, which lets viewers see the effects of the law-breaking. The show gives some context to the actions of criminals, but each episode makes clear that wrong-doers will eventually face a reckoning through its unrelenting detectives (and the show's ominous theme music).

The "CSI" franchise follows a nearly identical pattern, and has also spawned two more spin-off series - "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: NY." Both shows proved so popular that even more imitators followed, including "Cold Case," which investigates unsolved crimes from the past. What's amazing is these show are basically following the "investigation" format of early police shows like "Dragnet" though it's much more intriguing with today's modern production values. The quick flashbacks, dramatic music, and fast-moving camera shots all making these investigation shows much more exciting.

Some movies also follow a similar pattern. Two of Clint Eastwood's more recent movies have used criminal investigations to replace the violent gunplay of his earlier films ("Blood Work" and "True Crime"). But since R-rated films allow more action and violence, producers often find another story to tell: the life of the criminal.

"American Gangster" is only the most recent example. Ask anyone if they can name a movie about a criminal, and they'll come up with dozens of examples. There's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," "Gone in 60 Seconds," and even "Sweeney Todd." The movie "No Country For Old Men" was even nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture!

Some movies glamorize the lives of thieves, like the "Ocean's 11" series or "The Italian Job." More violent films glamorize the life of gangsters, like "Scarface" or "The Departed." It's important to recognize that some of these movies are modeled on the stories of real-life criminals, making the mirrors into a kind of mirror about the ruthlessness that lurks in the non-movie world.

Don't get me wrong; I've enjoyed most of these movies. But there's one obvious message to take away from this. If movies and TV shows are something you enjoy for entertainment, you're probably going to be watching a lot of crime!

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