Inside Man: Why do we find crime narratives so appealing?

In inside man, we watch from two perspectives, the detectives trying to solve the robbery, and the robbers themselves. As Rafter discussed, we often like to watch these films because we enjoy feeling 'bad' for a little while, but ultimately watching the bad people suffer at the end. In this movie, it combines the two in an unusual way; with the robbers getting away with the crime, but the 'ultimate' bad guy, a Nazi, getting caught. Even as the robbers are free, and in that way order is not restored, it is in another sense. The detective finds the ring in the safety deposit box, and confronts our 'ultimate' bad guy, as well as his helper and the mayor. Even the detective ends up with a little loot, as our main robber put a diamond in his pocket, so that he might propose to his girlfriend. All of this adds up to a very appealing film, that we can be bad while doing good, and get away with it.
Some ideologies in place here are that while detectives should be smart, often, criminals are smarter, or at least a little ahead. Also, that some criminals are good at heart, rather than malicious. It is less difficult in our minds to decide that a criminal is doing something for a good reason, instead of for sheer selfishness. We prefer to see the good, and ignore the bad. Lastly, another ideology in place here is that there is corruption in every level of government. The mayor knows a 'fixer', as he has used her in the past. Clearly this puts the 'bad guys' in a state of 'good', as they are attempting to right the wrong that the bank owner committed. The bank owner uses his 'fixer' contact, who in turn uses the Mayor, who in turn attempts to use the police force, with some success.
Overall, we find these narratives so appealing because it allows us to think that being bad can still be good, and we will win out in the end.

Law and Order: SVU and Surette's Crime and Justice Ecology

In this episode of SVU, there is a rape that occurs, without the victim's knowledge and/or consent. In today's idea of crime, all women are warned throughout their entire lives about the dangers of being passed out or incapacitated. We are warned; don't leave any drinks unattended, don't get too drunk, go out with friends, etc. When something happens, all too often we are told that we 'wanted it'. We wouldn't dress like that if we didn't, we wouldn't get that drunk with him if we didn't, or, we must have wanted it, even though we can't remember anything. Luckily, in today's society, this is slowly improving. In this episode of Law and Order, the SV unit does not give up, even though most of the people around the victim were insisting that it was part of the show, she wanted attention, and she must have wanted it. It depicts that persistence, following the trail, and maintaining the ethics of police can and does pay off. In the end, the predator (as Surette calls them) pleads guilty, allowing the criminal justice system to do it's job, and allowing the victim to go home, away from the place and person that violated her. This is not altogether uncommon, although when the predator does plead not guilty, it puts the victim through the entire humiliation and invasion that the initial rape caused.
It is true, however, that there are similarities between Surette's Crime and Justice Ecology and the scene presented in the episode. First of all, there is the ideal victim. She believed that she had found her price charming, she was saving herself for him as an innocent, and she was incredibly naive about the entire situation. Second of all, the ideal offenders were, in this case, the producers. They preyed on the victim sheep, and were cunning enough to stay ahead of the officers for most of the episode. While they were caught on tape at the end, they were able to get out of most of the charges, and because of their wealth, likely would not have spent any time in jail, or face any serious repercussions from the crime they committed. The main difference between Surette's ideas, and this particular form of media, is that the heroes in this case did not deviate from the law. They followed the leads, stayed within all boundaries, and were still able to catch the rapist. Lastly, although there were indeed some ideal predators, the rapist was not one of them. He was not born with the individual personality traits that would lead him to be a rapist, no matter what. It was also the environment in this episode that allowed his greed to take the shape of rape. He was not a monster in all other areas, but rather someone everyone on the show described as 'nice'.
Overall, there are some of Surette's ideas in this episode, but it does break some patterns, and allow some more realistic views of crime shine through.