Crooks (Lena Headey, Juno Temple)

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

I don't know how the hell criminal behavior is considered empowerment.

Well, it depends on a couple things.

1) Who's the victim?

2) Is there a point to the crime other than simple enrichment?

3) Do other people benefit from it?

Etc.

Like in Oceans Eleven did you for even one second feel sorry for Andy Garcia's character? I'm guessing no. Was there a point to the crime other than the money? Obviously. Did someone else benefit? Of course.

Now, whether those eleven guys needed empowering or not, that's a different story. But certainly things end up quite differently than they began, for a number of, and arguably all of the characters involved.

Criminals have obviously been the (anti-)heroes of films since the very beginning of the medium.

ETA: Oh, and I wanted to point out that "criminal behavior" is painting with a broad brush. All criminal behavior is not equal, and it isn't seen as equal by either the public nor the law. IOW, it all depends on what went down.