- Published: January 17, 2022
- Updated: January 17, 2022
- University / College: University of Chicago
- Level: College Admission
- Language: English
- Downloads: 21
Fletch is one of the most-watched movies in the world, despite the fact that it was shot in 1985, over 25 years ago, it remains popular up to this day. The actors, especially Chevy Chase, put a performance that is to be envied by modern-day actors. The movie centers on comedy, crime, and mystery with exemplary acting on Chase’s part that leaves the views both intrigued and in stitches of laughter. At the end of the movie, any person will be earning for more of the same performance from the silver screen. Throughout the movie, there are several elements of crime highlighted as this paper will seek to put to the fore.
One of the scenes has Irwin Fletcher, who is a journalist under the name Jane Doe, trying to buy drugs from a suspected dealer, Sam. He is approached by Alan Stanwyk on the beach, only in this scene Fletcher identifies himself as Ted Nugent, with the offer of $1000 just to listen to an offer Mr Alan had to make. The offer Alan makes while inside his home office is for Fletch to kill him, Alan because he was suffering from bone cancer, and Fletch would be paid $50000. As justifiable as this may sound for many, mercy killing is a crime punishable under law. In the event the two are caught, they both can be prosecuted for murder and colluding to murder, on Alan’s part. When one goes to court for mercy killing, the charge is plainly murder, and it is the judge to consider the “ mercy” element during his sentencing as per the provisions under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, Schedule 21 (Becker, 2005).
The next crime element can be witnessed in the office of Mr Alan’s boss where Fletch is impersonating an SEC investigator. This is an attempt to find out if Alan has involved himself with any improprieties. This is a criminal offence of impersonation, especially of a government officer and the use of false identity to acquire confidential information that would not be divulged under normal circumstances. According to the Nebraska code of 2006, impersonation classified under different counts of demeanor depending on the information obtained (Becker, 2005). The Supreme Court also held that 2-1, t the Virginia law against impersonating a police officer of the law is constitutional.
There is a scene where Fletch runs into an allay trying to intervene when a friend of his, a junkie by the name Gummy is being pursued by the police. We see an officer punch the man they are pursuing while Fletcher throws a stone at the police car as it speeds off. The police on their side are guilty of using excessive force on a defenceless man; this is against the fourteenth amendment which provides for the procedure of seizure and search. The Civil Rights Act of 1871 was not adhered to as the police use brutal force against Gummy (Becker, 2005). While Fletch breaks the law for vandalism after hitting the patrol car with a stone. Later in the movie, we get to see Fletch breaking and entering premises that appear to be an office at night to obtain information concerning a piece of land in Utah attributable to Mr Alan. Both the breaking and entering and obtaining private documents of a private citizen are against the law, and he can be charged as per Virginia State code section 18. 2-77, 18. 2-79, though these charges vary from state to state. In order to arrest Fletch, two police officers are seen at his hotel room where they manhandle him and plant evidence of cocaine in his person. Clearly, this is against the law and the officers can be charged (Becker, 2005).