The Movie: London Boulevard - Assignment Example

 The Movie: London Boulevard Brief Introduction of Movie After going through a number of movies and the novels on crimes, the movie we have selected for review is due to its uniqueness, exclusive subject coupled with its familiarity amongst the cine goers. The movie is “London Boulevard “. Each character of this film has played his/her appropriate role justifiably and sent a strong message to the criminals and the society alike that the days of criminals are numbered. In other words, every dog has a day. The film takes support of the rational choice theory of crime that is discussed in the essay. Plot When Harry Mitchell came out of the prison after completion of his sentence, his co partner in crime, Billy Norton offered him to live in his apartment provided that he had to work for his criminal associates. Mitchell on his way back to welcome party, saved a woman named Penny from being mugged. Billy told Mitchell and his co-coordinator, Danny that his sister Briony is in the arms of a drug addict in the basement. Billy sought help of Mitchell to save her sister from the drug addict. When party ended up, Mitchell contacted Penny again. During the course of meeting, Penny offered a job to help her friend who was living a retired life of an actress, named Charlotte. Thereafter, he went by train to see his blind homeless friend Joe at Big Issue Salesman to hand over him a sharp knife for his protection. On the following day, Mitchell met Charlotte and her friend Jordan. He got the job. He took a visit around the mansion and found valuable collection of paintings beside a garage, which was found full of Charlotte's ex-husband limousines. In the mentioned place, Mitchell met corrupt police investigator, Bailey who advised him to avoid Billy and forced Mitchell to grease his palm1. Mitchell apprised Billy the desire of Bailey to whom Billy could not succumb. Joe is brutally beaten up by two young footballers and left him to die. The doctor let Mitchell to see Joe whose desire was to take revenge of his death from the aforesaid killers. Mitchell went to the pub and sought help of his friend to find out the whereabouts of the killers, identified herein above. The same night, Mitchell was kidnapped by the kidnapper, Billy and brought him to his boss Rob Gant to collect money2. Charlotte and Mitchell made their escape good. Charlotte informed about the rape incident that had happened to her in Italy to Mitchell. Later on in the evening, Gant shot black teenager in the presence of Mitchell and Billy and made them believe that the murdered teenager was the member of the organization of ”Nation of Islam”, which beaten up Mitchell and scared up Billy. After the said incident, the detector, Gant told Mitchell to see him the next night at a restaurant to discuss undisclosed arrangement. After negotiation with Gant, Mitchell becomes the money collector of the areas, Streatham, Clapham and Kennington3. Gant reveals to Mitchell that the killer footballers have a bright future in the professional football team. Mitchell told Gant that he would be the first person whom he would like to kill provided that if he was a gangster. The next day, Mitchell showed his displeasure to Jordan about his job. The notorious Gant orders his coterie, Fletcher and Beaumont to kill the doctor who occupied the apartment of Mitchell after sodomizing Beaumont. Mitchell’s desire to kill the killer of footballers in the tunnel could not be materialized. Mitchell assured Charlotte about his love for her before sleeping together. He saw Billy’s van to attack. Billy told him that he came to kill him on the instructions of Gant. He told Mitchell to find out another woman to sleep with Gant since Gant will kill everyone who loves Mitchell. The money collected by Billy for Gant was stolen by Mitchell. Mitchell told Briony to be flown out to Paris since her life is in danger. Mitchell and Jordan both found the dead body of Billy in front of the garden whereas the body of a Bosnian was lying outside the gate. Mitchell sought help of Jordan to kill Storobor. They follow Storbor to a nightclub. Mitchell took Storbor to the van where Jordan was hiding, got killed Storbor. After killing Storbor and Whiteboy, Mitchell dumped the dead bodies of the mentioned people to get flooded4. In the meantime, Briony, who was hiding in Paris, enjoyed the sexual pleasure with Dr. Raju in her London Apartment. On intimation, Gant comes by and killed both of them with a hammer. Soon after cited gruesome incident, Mitchell entered into Gant's bedroom and shot him point blank in his head and took away pounds 60,000. He looted all the money from Gant hidden in the boxes beneath the floorboards. As Mitchell left his house, he was stabbed in the back by the footballer. The film ended with a scene that Jordan sitting on the bench with a gun whereas two police officers were walking towards him. From the distance, he heard three shots of gunfire5. Rational Choice Theory There are multiple choices for a criminal. However, rational choice in the criminology believes in costs and benefits to make a sensible choice. This method is evolved by Cornish and Clarke keeping in mind the situational crime prevention. It is assumed that mother of crime is the lust for money, status, sex and excitement. Abundance of worldly materials provides numerous choices 6. Review of the role of mentioned characters in the movie under discussion, indicates that Harry Mitchell and Billy Norton—the ugly killers and the corrupt police investigator Baily and the boss of Billy, Rob Gant besides chasing the goose that lay golden eggs, all had great lust for money, status, sex and excitement. The rational choice theory is rightly pointed out that the abundance of mundane items ignites criminals to adopt numerous choices to achieve their identified targets. Main Theme of Assumptions It is clear that rational choice is based on a number of assumptions. Out of which individualism is on top of the priority list since the offender finds himself and others as offenders. The second motive of the offender is to maximize their target achievable. The offender is always self centered. He least bothers for others desire and specifically focus on his goal. For a better understanding we have to look at it a) human being is considered as a rational actor b) Rationality revolves around means calculations c) People’s behavior are chosen in terms of assent and dissent d) needs cost benefit analysis e) focus on to increase pleasure f) choice of the offender may be restricted or unrestricted keeping in mind the price tag of breaching a social contract g) state is responsible for maintaining law and order situation and h) cultural society merits swiftness, harshness, some degree of punishment to control human attitude. Economic compulsion is the motivational factor of crime irrespective of its limited or un-limited nature7. According to drift theory, people rely on the techniques of neutralization for their delinquent behavior and the Systematic Crime Theory developed by the school of Chicago. As per the thought of Edwin Sutherland the failure of families lost control on the community that leads to “systematic" crime and delinquency. Disorganization causes cultural conflicts, which promote antisocial activity. Every school of thought believes in disciplined culture as a dominant factor. In the Routine Activities Theory, that was developed by Cohen and Felson in 1979, focuses on the characteristics of crime instead of the characteristics of the offender. It has linkage with environmental criminology. The authors of mentioned theories are of the view that for crime to happen the following elements must be found a) suitable target b) motivation and c) no deterrent to prevent crime8. During the era of 60’s and 70’s, women due to economic compulsion left home to work in industries and other establishments, which ultimately led to social disorganization i.e. leaving home and its inmates instrumental in increasing crime rates. This has supported problem triangle used to examine the crime related problems, its location and absence of competent guardianship. The guardianship is an important factor in building a child character and repose confidence in him9. In order to come to a factual conclusion, offenders being interviewed with regard to motives, modus operandi and selected targets. Research shows committed burglary, bank looting and commercial robbery on the verge of increase with the passage of time10. The theory under reference is of the opinion that crime is calculated and deliberate. Hence, all criminals are rational actors who believe in conscious decision towards gaining maximum benefits. It is true that frequent offenders make decisions based on limited rationality. It emphasizes about individuals and groups who have the capability to anticipate all available options and information. Bounded rationality comprises two aspects a) cognitive limitations and b) extreme emotions11. Hence, sometimes we find offenders, emotional beyond one’s imagination. Take the example of Harry Mitchell whose emotions become beyond control when he found her sister sleeping with a drug addict in the basement. Therefore, he sought help of Billy to save her sister from the clutches of a drug addict. It is true to say that sometimes offenders’ emotions are beyond one’s imagination. Of course, crime can be influenced by the opportunity of crime. It relates to cost benefits, socioeconomic imbalances, dependence, risk of detection, type of offence and uncomplicated access to external benefits. Besides the above factors, opportunities are heavily dependent on the individual’s existing surroundings and consequences. In our society, tax dodging, traffic rules violations, uncontrollable drinking and driving; white color crimes and sexual assaults are rampant. Contrary to that expressive crime includes involves emotion and lack of rational thinking without taking care of future consequences. In this category, non-pre-mediated murder like manslaughter and assaults are included. Therefore, punishment to the offenders is an effective tool to stop instrumental crime rather than expressive crime12. They study conducted in the year 2000 by Grady indicates illegal sale of tobacco to the underage youth. It compels the rational mind traders and the clerks to weigh cost benefit and risk factors, which are involved in selling the tobacco related products. When they (traders and the clerks) felt that the police patrolling after five are seldom, they allow selling of cigarettes to underage youth illegally. The important critiques of rational choice theory are a) presumably all individuals have the capability to make rational decisions b) it lacks the burden of responsibility to the youth offenders and c) it contradicts with the theory of Canadian Criminal Justice System13. Routine activity theory As per the definition of mentioned theory, crime is normal and it depends upon the available opportunities. For example if the victim is not protected sufficiently and to nab the criminal is not worthwhile then the chances of crime is assured. Crime does not necessarily require wicked men; it just needs an opportunity to happen. Routine activities are engulfed with unreported minor thefts to the Police. It can happen all the times. It does not need specific time. It needs only opportunity14. The crime needs an opportunity, which is clearly reflected in the case of Harry Mitchell when he shot in the head of Gant and took away 60,000 pounds from his house, which were hidden in the boxes beneath the floorboards. Crime is relatively unaffected by social causes as poverty, inequality and unemployment. We cite here the example of World War II, when Western economies were on the boom. During the course of war, crime rose significantly. In view of Felson and Cohen, it is due to prosperity of contemporary society, which offers a number of opportunities to commit a crime or crimes. Cited theory is controversial amongst the sociologists who find crime in social issues. Following crimes fall under routine activity theory a) copyright infringement that is related to peer-to-peer file sharing b) internal theft and c) corporate crime15. Situational Crime Prevention Aforementioned category consists of opportunity reducing measures are a) highly specific forms of crime b) management involvement, manipulation of environment in two ways systematic and permanent c) makes crime an elusive dream, less rewarding and in excusable attitude for the criminals. It needs to improve the physical environment such as improved lighting in public places, installations of alarms, CCTV Cameras, traffic calming and creation of green belts. Further measures should be taken to enhance surveillance of neighborhood activities. Establishment of watch and wards committees, deployment of security force at private residences and the business entities yield positive results in terms of maintaining effective security. In order to reduce criminal activities, it is necessary to enhance healthy activities. Different sort of counseling programs such as recreation program and Aids prevention should be in place for public awareness and their participation. Generation of employment for the local youth would be another remedial measure in curbing the criminal activities16. We cannot deny the importance of three important roles of emotions within the ambit of rational choice theory of crime. The most important is the state of emotionality of the people on which rational conduct rests. Secondly is the thrill of minor property crime that anticipated emotional consequences of criminal conduct in the process of rational decision making. Lastly the anticipated emotional costs attached with criminal attitude, might reduce the likelihood of such behavior. Emotions are played an important role in motivating the height of different desires thus energizing people to pursue their goals. If an offender is emotionally charged, there is an apprehension of assaulting someone at the hands of level headed individual. Negative emotions have its own repercussions leading an individual to use limited rationality before moving towards criminal action17. Salient Features Rational choice theory considers social interaction as social exchange. Reward is the most motivational factor for the growth. Renowned theorists found rationality as a result of psychological conditioning. Others have adopted the stance, which is necessary to make someone believe in rationality. Collective action may have great hindrance with regard to rational choice theory, which cannot explain why the individuals should join certain groups and associations. The problem of social norms and the Hobbesian problem also pose great difficulties. It cannot explain the origins of social norms, specifically reciprocity and trust. There is no denial that poor social structure may hamper rational choice theory, besides it creates problems for the theories in vogue. Solutions to the problems that relates to unintended consequences of an individual should be kept in mind. Conclusion We have discussed in detail the motivational factors that provide an opportunity to the criminal to commit a crime. The film under discussion portrays or unveils the ugly dominant characters of a society whose only motives are to make money within the shortest possible time to enjoy the luxurious life at the cost of others’ lives. They don’t even mind to kill people ruthlessly that come in their way. In order to create a civilized society, which follows the moral values and to promote healthy trend amongst the youth of society, some problematic issues were discussed. The issues highlighted therein are the result of lack of mother’s proper attention towards their wards due to economic compulsion and other factors as well. The gap between the haves and have-nots has become widen day by day. Of course, emotions play a vital role in motivating the height of different desires thus energizing people to pursue their goals by way of healthy practices. If an offender is emotionally charged, there is an apprehension of assaulting someone at the hands of empty headed individual. Negative emotions have its own repercussions on an individual on account of limited rationality before moving towards criminal action against an individual. It is the need of the hour that we should take the bull by the horns before it is too late. To improve the physical environment, lighting system in public places should be improved, installation of security and safety alarms and CCTV Cameras, traffic calming and creation of green belts shall be ensured. Bibliography Clarke, R. V. G., & Felson, M. (1993). Routine activity and rational choice (Vol. 5). Transaction Publishers. Cullen, F. T., & Agnew, R. (2006). Criminological theory: past to present: essential readings. Roxbury Publishing Company. Fararo, T. J. (1993). Rational choice theory. J. S. Coleman (Ed.). Sage Publications. Hechter, M., & Kanazawa, S. (1997). Sociological rational choice theory. Annual review of sociology, 191-214. IMDb (2011) London Boulevard (2010). [online] Available at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213648/ [Accessed: 7 Apr 2013]. Rosenbaum, D. P., Lurigio, A. J., & Davis, R. C. (1998). The prevention of crime: Social and situational strategies. Belmont: Wadsworth. Scott, J. (2000). Rational choice theory. Understanding contemporary society: Theories of the present, 126-138. Read More