Narrative Structure in the Crime Genre

Within the crime genre there are different sub-genres, including the detective movie, the gangster movie and the heist movie.

Narrative structure of detective films

Nearly all detective films follow the same plot pattern, or narrative structure: a crime occurs (an effect), and the viewers accompany the detective on his mission to unravel and solve the crime (revealing the causes). Also, typically, characters are often initially falsely accused before the real criminal is caught. 

Narrative structure of gangster films

Nearly all gangster films follow the rise and fall narrative structure of an individual or group, where they come from nothing, amount to a huge success, before getting ahead of themselves. This last element leads to their tragic downfall, where they either end up in prison or dead (or, in Henry Hill's case in 'Goodfellas', living in witness protection, with none of the trappings of his previous life). 

Narrative structure of heist movies

The structure of a heist film typically revolves around a group fixated on stealing a specific item or object, which could be money, jewels or a type of treasure. The first act of the film is mainly focused on 'the set up', with the planning, assembling the crew and creating a detailed and intricate plan. The second act tends to focus on the execution of the plan, usually with many unexpected hiccups. The third and final act often focuses on the aftermath; sometimes the plan succeeds ('Inception', 'Ocean's Eleven') whereas sometimes it fails ('Reservoir Dogs').