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  Extra Credit- “The Usual Suspects”  Previously knowing nothing about the movie __The Usual Suspects__, I was skeptical before renting it. But after watching it for the first time, I didn’t want it to end. The movie was written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. Some of the major actors in the film are Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollack, and Kevin Spacey. The film begins with a boat explosion and the murder of a man we later find out is named Keaton. After the boat explosion, there are only 2 survivors: Verbal Kint and a badly burnt Hungarian man. Verbal is brought into the police station and taken to an office where the officers request to hear his side of the story. Verbal’s story starts 6 weeks earlier when 5 criminals, Keaton, Hockney, Fenster, McManus, and Kint are all brought together in a police lineup. While in holding, McManus convinces the other convicts to steal money and drugs from corrupt NYPD officers. After this operation, the gang goes to California to sell the stolen goods to McManus’s friend Redfoot. Redfoot wants the criminals to perform another job from a lawyer named Kobayashi, who works for the notorious Keyser Söze. Verbal returns from his flashback and explains how although Keyser Söze may be mythical, he can still fill a person we fear. On the night of the heist, Keaton tells Kint to stay behind, take the money, and take care of his girlfriend, Edy. Kint hesitantly agrees than Keaton, Hockney, and McManus finish the job they have been assigned. Hockney is killed, followed by Hockney and Keaton. The film returns to the present as Verbal wraps up his account of the attack in the harbor. Verbal than admits to the officer that everything had been Keaton’s idea and then the detective makes the assumption that Keaton had been the notorious Keyser Söze. Verbal posts bail and leaves the office with immunity. After Kint leaves, the officer begins to piece Verbal’s story together and realizes it was made up. He chases after Kint, who we now figure out is the real Keyser Söze.

One aspect of the film I liked was the structure. Like “A Rose for Emily”, the film was not in chronological order, which made it more interesting. If the film was in sequential order it would have been less engaging. Although the flashbacks were confusing at times, it all made sense in the end. This also helped to verify Verbal’s story. Because we are watching a flashback, we tend to feel sorry for Verbal because he is crippled. The structure of this movie helped the entire story remain more appealing.

I also liked that the film was from the criminal’s point of view. I was expecting the film to focus on the detectives but this point of view made the movie more attention-grabbing. Although we don’t know Kint is the criminal initially, there are many clues along the way. One major clue is that he is the only survivor from the boat explosion. There are also a few times when he accidentally moves his crippled arm. But even with these clues, the ending is still a surprise. I also liked the fact that as a criminal, Verbal Kint is able to manipulate the police to believe every word he says. He plays a role the entire interrogation. He tells the detectives an epic account of the tragic events but then walks out emotionless to everything he has done. He also pretends to be friends with Keaton, and then ends up killing him in the end. I thought Verbal’s trickery was clever and even though he is the bad guy, I admired how he outwits the police.

This film is an example of hard- boiled fiction, but it also shows some signs of classic detection. Urban setting, a gang conspiracy, and bloody/ violent crime scene are all elements found in hard- boiled detection. In the film we see all these aspects represented. The plot takes place in New York and California, the crime was committed by a group of men, and the crime scene is very violent because it contains a numerous amount of bodies. Hard- boiled detection also raises the question “what the hell is going on?” We constantly see this in the interrogation while the detectives are trying to figure out what really happened on the boat. Classic detection can be seen in this film because the movie is an intellectual puzzle. The audience is given clues but we are still surprised when the real criminal is revealed. The case is also an intellectual puzzle for the police because they are on a hunt to figure out “whodunit.”

I really liked this movie and I would definitely recommend it. I admired different aspects of the film including the out of order sequence of events and the story being told through the criminal’s point of view. Both of these elements kept me more engaged and interested in what would happen next. The film also contained different aspects from hard- boiled as well as classic detection. They each added to the overall understanding of the film.

Week 5- Draft  Many detective fiction novels have been adapted to the big screen and after seeing a few of these films in class, I think the films have been made effectively. Films give an audience a better visualization of the characters and plot being explained. Film versions are also easier to follow and they are shorter than novels. Although film has a visual advantage, novels give readers the opportunity to create the characters and settings while reading. Films also have some disadvantages that could show their inferiority to print. In film, a director may take out a scene to make a movie better suited for Hollywood but this may take away from the author’s original intentions. After reading a few detective fiction novels and seeing their film versions, I can say I prefer print versions better.

After reading some detection fiction stories, the films have had an advantage because they bring the ideas and visualizations of the characters and settings to life. The films helped me to better understand the novels. Casting could also make or break a film. For example, __Devil in a Blue Dress__ was casted very well with a very strong leading man, played by Denzel Washington. This film also had characters that I thought were well related to the novel. They included the characters that played Mouse and Daphne. On the other hand, __The Maltese Falcon__ had some actors who did not fit their roles. Although Humphrey Bogart played an ideal Sam Spade, Mary Astor fell short of a perfect Brigid O’ Shaughnessy. She was not what I imagined from the book and her over the top acting took away from my enjoyment of this film. Some films have good casting, which adds to the overall plot. But some detective films are the opposite and may detract from a viewer’s satisfaction of a film version.

Another benefit to film versions is how simply they are to follow. We can watch a film unfold as opposed to reading many extensive details in a novel. Films are more straightforward and get to the point faster. Films are condensed, which allows them to be completed in a shorter amount of time. This is an advantage for the fast paced society we live in. Films simply save viewers time.

Films also have disadvantages. Some writers and directors may delete or add a scene from a movie to make it more suitable for the box office. For example, in __Devil in a Blue Dress__ certain details were changed to have a different effect on the audience. In the film, Junior was not a killer, which differs from the novel. The novel also contains more killings than the film. The film also fails to mention a link between Carter and Albright. This information changes Walter Moseley’s original story.

In conclusion, film has its advantages as well as it disadvantages but I think that print is superior to film. Film may be condensed which allows us to see the story in a shorter amount of time, but films also might take out or add different scenes and details not included in the book. This takes away from an author’s original ideas. Films might also gives us a visualization of characters and settings from a novel, but they also take away our own ideas about the same characters and settings. Films give us less room for interpretation. This is why I prefer print detection fiction to film.

Week 4- Draft  Classic and hard- boiled detective stories both have certain elements that make them different. In classic and hard- boiled fictions, we see differences in the detectives themselves. In classic detection, the detective tends to show less emotion and stay less active with their cases. Hard- boiled, however, the detective shows more emotion (usually to the women) and is also very active in solving the case. Either side has a positive and negative view of these different elements. Both stories also contain class issues that make them different. These matters don’t add or take away anything from the story. It’s good to have different social classes mentioned in these stories. Although classic and hard- boiled have differences in the emphasis on sex, the detective’s involvement, and the social class mentioned, they each impact the stories in different ways. In classic and hard- boiled detection, we see a difference in the emphasis on sexuality. Hard- boiled detection has a strong emphasis, while classic detection remains sexless. Sexless detectives show strength by not letting their emotions get in the way. They remain emotionless which helps them stay focused. In “A Scandal in Bohemia”, there is a woman present but Sherlock Holmes does not get involved with her. There is no sexual connection between the investigator and client, which keeps the detective more determined to solve the case. On the other hand, male detectives in hard- boiled fiction show affection towards the women. This can be seen as a weakness because the men are always preoccupied with women. Male detectives continually try to woo the women. We see this in “The Maltese Falcon” with Sam Spade. He has a flirtatious way of speaking to women in which he calls women “baby” and “angel”. This makes us think the male detectives in hard- boiled fiction are more caught up in getting a girl. Not showing emotion, like the detectives in classic detection, is strength to staying focused.

Another difference between detectives in hard- boiled and classic detection is how involved each gets with a case. Detectives in classic detection tend to be more detached from their case. This can be seen as a weakness because they let everything come to them. In “Murders at the Rue Morgue”, Dupin doesn’t go out and find the sailor himself, he simply sits back and waits for the sailor to come find him. But hard- boiled detectives are the opposite. Sam Spade, for example, is constantly on the hunt for different clues to help him figure out the case. He goes to visit many people for answers and does not settle until he is satisfied. Being engaged in a case is a strength that hard- boiled detectives have. The detectives in classic detection do not seem to work as hard to solve a case. Classic and hard- boiled detection also differ in the class they deal with. Classic detection tends to be more focused on people in higher, aristocratic parties, while hard- boiled focuses on the common people. In classic detection, we see Sherlock Holmes working for royalty in stories like “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”. Also in classic detection, Dupin works for people in a higher social class in “The Purloined Letter”. Hard- boiled detective, on the other hand, show crimes that occur among common people. For example, in “Murder at the Automat”, the mystery didn’t involve anyone of royalty or nobility. It was just ordinary people. Class is a strength for both classic and hard- boiled. It’s good to show the difference in class because we can see that whether you are rich or poor, you may still be caught in a situation where you need a detective’s assistance. In conclusion, we see that classic and hard- boiled detection both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Classic is stronger by not letting the detectives show emotions, while hard- boiled detectives always try and find a women. Hard- boiled shows its strength by the detective’s involvement. Hard- boiled detectives remain active in their cases, while classic detectives stay more observant. Both classic and detective detection have different class issues but this does not make either one superior. Although classic and hard- boiled have different elements, they all give the story a different twist for the reader to enjoy.

Week 2- Revised Although “Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe is seen as the first modern detective story, I think it falls of being an effective detective story. This story has some elements of detective fiction, but it also has many unrealistic aspects which left me disappointed at its conclusion. The story does not contain a true murderer. Without a murderer, there is also no motive. A story without a true murderer with a motive lacks a crime as well. This story also contains many unnecessary details that only brought on more confusion. Although I did admire Dupin’s methods and ability to solve this puzzling case, I think that “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is a farfetched version of a detective fiction story and it falls short of being an effective detective story.

One reason I felt “Murders in the Rue Morgue” falls short of being an effective detective story is because of the unbelievable elements presented. Typically in detective stories, a detective has to unravel the crime by finding the criminal and figuring out his or her motive. “Murders in the Rue Morgue” presents a very gruesome crime scene where two bodies are discovered. This is not at all surprising; but what is surprising is the unveiling of the murderer (if it can even be called that). After finding out an animal is responsible for the crime, I was disappointed with the unlikely occurrence. This shows that the crime was more of a freak accident than a pre-meditated murder. “Murders in the Rue Morgue” also leaves the readers disappointed because it lacks a true crime. Although two women are killed, it is merely an unfortunate event. The murder committed was not out of revenge or the result of careful planning, but rather it is the act of an outraged animal. The animal decides to reenact shaving, something he had seen his caretaker do many times before. The simple act of shaving turns deadly when the razor is put into the wrong hands. This story does not lack suspense or mystery by any means, but the solution to the mystery does not satisfy the reader’s expectations brought on by the gruesome crime scene.

 “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is a story with extensive details that can be confusing and sometimes hard to follow. For example, in the opening of the story, Poe writes extensively about the traits of an analytical mind. It isn’t until we continue reading that we can comprehend this lengthy introduction. Because we can only understand this game analogy later on in the story, I felt “Murders in the Rue Morgue” was out of order and this analytical process that describes Dupin should have been presented at a later time. I also felt Poe spends too much time explaining the different suspects and it is overbearing. The in depth descriptions on the various witnesses involved too much information, which made it more difficult to follow. It should have been more direct and to the point.

In conclusion, I feel Edgar Allan Poe’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue” can be considered the first detective story, but I do not think it is and effective one. It lacks a murderer and crime which are both key elements of a true detective story. This story also contains many curious details, including the Ourang- Outang as a vicious killer. Along with these details, Poe also includes extensive analysis of Dupin’s mental process and a variety of interviews with suspects. This just results in excess information that is difficult to remember. I feel that detective fiction should have more realistic ideas and plots. This is why “Murders in the Rue Morgue” can be first modern detective story, although it lacks effectiveness.

Week 3- Draft Although men and women detectives are both insightful, observant, and specific with the techniques they use to solve the crime at hand, they are different in many ways. Men and women are initially different when they begin their investigation. Each sex has a different method of conducting their research. During the investigation, men and women detectives show emotional differences. While women sympathize with the victim, men try to get into the mind of the criminal. We can also see differences in the language used in male and female detective stories. Although some male and female detectives share some similarities, they also have some apparent differences as well.

When first starting to investigate a mystery, men and women have different ways of managing the scene and the information they are given. Men have a science to their methods while women trust their intuitions. Both male detectives Sherlock Holmes and Dupin strictly follow their methods to investigations. They are both are analytical detectives and pay close attention to the details involved in their cases. Women, however, show a less logical way of investigating. In “A Jury of Her Peers”, Mrs. Peters stumbles onto clues that reveal Mrs. Wright as the true murderer. Mrs. Peters had no true way of conducting an investigation; she simple fell into the evidence. Men and women detectives have different, yet effective ways of gathering information at a crime scene. Men and women detectives show emotional differences in their investigations. Men are straightforward and to the point of the crime, while women tend to be more sympathetic towards the victim. Men also think like criminals and women think like victims. For example, Dupin and Holmes both commit criminal acts to help solve the mystery. In “The Purloined Letter”, Dupin becomes the criminal when he forges the letter. Sherlock Holmes also commits a criminal act in “A Scandal in Bohemia” when he cleverly gets into Irene Adler’s home. This shows male detectives are ruthless in solving their cases. On the other hand, women get inside the mind of the victim. In “A Jury of Her Peer”, Mrs. Peters blames herself for not visiting Mrs. Wright. She also shows sympathy for Mrs. Wright when she realizes the hardships she had while she was living with her husband. This causes Mrs. Peters to steal the canary so there is no evidence against her. Although this is a criminal act, she does it to protect Mrs. Wright, not to convict her. Men and women detectives disregard the law while investigating a crime which shows their loyalty to their clients. Both sexes relate to their clients but women become more attached to them. The language that is used in male and female detective stories also shows some differences. In male detective stories, there is a more complicated way of explaining everything. For example, “The Purloined Letter” begins with an elaborate explanation of games. It isn’t until later in the story when the reader can fully understand the introductions meaning. Women detective stories are more direct and to the point. They get right into the case and its investigation. This makes it easier to follow along with the story. Both male and female detectives have specific details that make them different. We see that women are emotional, while men remain focused on the task at hand. We also see other differences as well. Whether it’s the language used by the author or the methods used by the detectives, these stories have differences but still manage to be true to the detective genre.

Week 2- Draft Although “Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe is seen as the first modern detective story, I think it falls short of this title. This story has some elements of detective fiction, but it also has many unrealistic aspects which left me disappointed at its conclusion. The story did not contain a true murderer. Without a murderer, there is also no motive. A story without a true murderer with motive lacks a crime as well. This story also contained many unnecessary details that only brought on more confusion. Although I did admire Dupin’s methods and ability to solve this puzzling case, I think that “Murders in the Rue Morgue” was a farfetched version of a detective fiction story and it should not have been described as the first modern detective story. One reason I felt “Murders in the Rue Morgue” fell short of being the first modern detective story was because of the unbelievable elements presented. Typically in detective stories, a detective has to unravel the crime by finding the criminal and figuring out their motive. “Murders in the Rue Morgue” presents a very gruesome crime scene where two bodies are discovered. This was not at all surprising. The surprising part was the unveiling of the murderer (if it can even be called that). After finding out a zoo animal was responsible for the crime, I was disappointed with the unlikely occurrence. This shows that the crime was more of an angry accident than a pre-meditated murder. “Murders in the Rue Morgue” also leaves the readers disappointed because it lacks a true crime. Although a murder is committed, it is merely an unfortunate event. The murder committed was not out of revenge or a well thought out plot, but rather by an outraged animal that was reenacting what he had seen his caretaker do many times before. The simple act of shaving turned deadly when it was put into the wrong hands. This story does not lack suspense or mystery by any means, but the truth of the mystery doesn’t satisfy the readers expectations brought on by the gruesome crime scene.  “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is a story with extensive details that were confusing and sometimes hard to follow. For example, in the opening of the story, Poe writes an extensive analysis of how success in a game can bring great joy to a man. It isn’t until we continue reading that we can comprehend this lengthy introduction. Because we can only understand this game analogy later on in the story, I felt “Murders in the Rue Morgue” was out of order and this analytical process that describes Dupin should have been presented at a later time. I also felt Poe spent too much time explaining the different suspects and it was overbearing. The in depth descriptions on the various suspected criminals involved too much information, which made it more difficult to follow. It should have been more direct and to the point. In conclusion, I do not feel Edgar Allan Poe’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue” can be considered the first detective story. It lacks a murderer and crime which are both key elements to establishing a true detective story. This story also contains many curious details, including the Ourang- Outang as a vicious killer. Along with these details, Poe also includes extensive analysis of Dupin’s mental process and a variety of interviews with suspects. This just brought on excess information that was difficult to remember. I feel that detective fiction should have more realistic ideas and plots; this is why “Murders in the Rue Morgue” cannot be first modern detective story.