American gangster movies have been in vogue for a very long time and have been a favorite of the American audience. The issues which surround law and order in the country have been captured well by gangster movies which depict criminals and vivid crime scenes. Although the movie is basically about letting the bad guys lose and the good guys emerge triumphant at the end, the movies usually swerve with the bad guys in the movie going about their crimes successfully without getting caught. Although the public has a clear recognition between the good and the bad, it is very interesting to see how crimes are carried about and what leads a person to become a criminal.
Americans might love gangsters because they are the exact illustration of what is going on about them, covertly but substantially. Crimes are prevalent in every society no matter how peaceful matters are kept by law enforcement agencies (Horsley). Nevertheless, there are criminals present amongst the people, either in the form of the underworld or in gangs and mobs. Their lifestyle, choices, planning for crimes, execution of the crimes and the ultimate fending off the police or law enforcement agencies is a very intriguing matter for the American public. This is the reason why movies such as The Godfather, Heist, Gotti, Thief and many others have gained such importance in the past that they are taken as the role model films for the upcoming crime movies in the present day (Chadwick).
Hollywood ensures that the underworld of the criminal world is not subservient to paying back for their crimes as they do not have a moral commitment to anything. Moreover, the law enforcement and crime and punishment factor in these movies is very strong (Horsley). The leader of the gang is his own source of law and order in the gang, yet he is against the law in the real world. These opposing traits in one person and his operation of the underworld are an attractive package for the audiences who are attracted to these gangster figures in large numbers.
Merton’s modes of adaptation are spread out all over the movie in the form of the organization of the crime and the acceptance of the criminal world and Mafia as the normal operating world just like the world of non-criminal individuals. The first mode of adaptation is the conformity. When people are unwilling to conform to the rights and duties of obedient citizens who carry out legal activities and work as the other citizens of the world, they turn to the world of crime. Criminals are individuals who are least likely to conform and accept the cultural norms as they exist (“CRIM104 - Lecture 3 Notes Flashcards”). In the movie The Godfather, individuals wish to gain power and that power is only possible through illegitimate means. Don Vito Corleone is the main head of the family running the ‘family business’ and he is responsible for keeping the favors of the other people he is involved with by bribing others and enforcing criminal measures in order to make them obey him and the people he is in cahoots with. Drugs and murder are the world they are indulged in whereas outwardly they are rich and successful to the world.
Michael, the son of Vito Corleone, returning from the marines is the most reluctant of them all to join the family business, but he turns out to become only more ruthless than his father. This is explained by innovation (“CRIM104 - Lecture 3 Notes Flashcards”). When people become innovative, they are more likely to turn criminal. While on the one hand the family is running the Genco Oil Offices, on the other hand, they are running a dangerous bloodthirsty mafia of gangsters and criminals who would do anything for the power and money, getting their own way.
Ritualism in the move is apparent by the deviation of the characters each serving his own means for one cause; the crime (“CRIM104 - Lecture 3 Notes Flashcards”). The family’s Sicilian tradition is important even in America and they will carry it on no matter what. The organized crime comes from Sicily and they have transferred it here, which is the reason Michael hides in Sicily when he is bring tracked down. It is moreover common for the individuals in the family of goons and dons to retreat to the lives they have grown up observing (“CRIM104 - Lecture 3 Notes Flashcards”). Michael for example, has been trying with all his might to leave the world of delinquency but he ends up heading the family business of illegal, criminal activities to keep matters going. His brother Sonny has also stepped into the business but both the men indulge deeper into the world of crime with every passing day. These people are also rebels, as per Merton’s modes (“CRIM104 - Lecture 3 Notes Flashcards”). This is because they are criminals but they are doing everything for protecting their own family. Michael only steps up to avenge the death of his father, Sonny beats up his brother in law because he hits his sister and they also tend to keep the children away from the world of crime because they are open to the fact that this is not the world they want them to adopt.
The advice I chose from a character is that given by Vito Corleone in the movie when he says, “A lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.” This quote is inspirational as well as much thought provoking because this is very true of the current status of lawyers in the world. Vito has said this from his perspective as a criminal and a delinquent in society although he is rich and influential as well. On the other hand, he believes that the world can conquer more with the help of the word than the need of using weapons and arms. This is the reason Vito had a very stable set up of the business, and he is looked upon with respect and honor. As soon as his sons take over they are full of their thirst for power which they quench by murder and death and try to finish off their enemy by hand, rather than by using the word of law.
It is also advice which is ironic for the movie since lawyers are the upholders of the original and proper law made for peace and order but for Vito to quote a lawyer means that he is simply ironic since he has nothing to do with the proper operation of things.
It is often debated that by depicting criminal movies and crimes to large audiences, movie makers are actually spreading the crime and making it more obvious to the world. This is thought to have the same effect as violent video games on children and adolescents, and so movies shown in such a setting are also damaging (Perry). However, this is untrue. Movies with criminals and crimes are not exactly encouraging people to a life of crime.
Firstly, if anyone is concerned about children watching them, then such movies are already rated PG because children are not supposed to view them to begin with. There is a lot of violent matter in the movies such as bloodshed and dialogues which are likely to affect the child’s mind negatively. Hence, children getting affected by the movies is out of the question.
Moreover, as research encounters this matter, it is said that the influence of the movie upon an individual’s aggressive behavior depends on how aggressive a person is to begin with (Perry). Some people will be naturally inclined to anger and aggressiveness and will possess that violent streak within themselves. Mostly bloody scenes and the use of abusive language will not have any effect on passive viewers, and they will view the whole movie like a normal entertainment means (Perry). The only effect that a violent movie could have on an individual is to make them more excited and perhaps engrossed in the details of the plot and perhaps nothing more. People are aware of the fact that a movie is a movie; it is a piece of fiction which depicts an aspect of society which is only shown to aware the audience of what is possible happening under their nose. For the people to actually become criminal after watching a movie like The Godfather or any other would be highly unlikely. Millions of people all over the world have viewed the movie and his sequels as well, and they remain as passive and docile as they were before watching the movie as well as after they had watched it (Perry). It is one thing to replicate the scenes or dialogues such as when playing or just jokingly, rather than set up one’s own mafia or begin to murder people just like it had happened in the movie (Perry).
After watching the movie, I realized that the leadership style of Don Corleone was the most impressive. The reason for his success at first was because he was very clever and had a way of getting things done for himself and the family. His influence over the others was gained by his manners and the ability to coax others into following his way. Firstly, he was a man who used different ways for different people. He knew exactly how to deal with people from different backgrounds. With the right people, he dealt in with the right way. For the ones who were trouble for him, he was more aggressive. For some he would use fear and power for instance with the undertaker and with others he was respectful and gentler like with Luca Bracci and with others who were threatening him, he was able to overpower with force (Putlocker).
He was also an ardent listener and talked little. His power was not to let his ideas and thoughts become apparent to the world. He exercised this power especially with his rivals and let his success do the talking. Also in the movie, he asks for clarifications and explanations, but he does not interrupt others when they are telling him anything (Putlocker).
Another power that he has as a leader is the power of delegation. He made the decisions and did things on his own. But he ensured that others would always get a part in the decisions and he would be able to make more efficient plans and have a better chance at succeeding. Moreover, his decisions are never influenced by emotions, and they are always made on a logical basis. He knows he will be assassinated, and he is sure of the fact, even telling his son about it. He had an action and reaction response to everything in life which is why is he succeeded as a leader, who always knew to the next, ‘wise’ step to take in life (Putlocker).
Work Cited
“CRIM104 - lecture 3 notes Flashcards.” 2001. Web. 24 May 2016.
Perry, Keith. “Watching Violent Films Does Make People More Aggressive, Study Shows.” The
Telegraph 10 Sept. 2014. Web. 24 May 2016.
Horsley, Lee. Crimeculture. 2004. Web. 24 May 2016.
Chadwick, Bruce. Why we have loved gangster movies for 100 years. 2016. Web. 24 May 2016.
“Watch the godfather online free Putlocker | Putlocker - watch movies online free.” 1972. Web.
24 May 2016.
