http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/investigating-crime-drama/

Similarities and differences
Exam questions may involve comparing two or more crime dramas both on film and television. One way to do this is to find similarities and differences under headings such as:

•narrative - are there similar story lines, or twists at the end
•characters — describe and contrast the protagonist and the antagonists
•representation — identify stereotypes (social, cultural, racial, gender-related)
•treatment of realism, is there any irony or comedy (Hot Fuzz), nostalgia (Poirot), period detail (The Godfather)
•media language — is ther edocumentary style ‘shaky’ camera work, naturalistic lighting, ‘realistic’ special effects, ‘subtle’ stunt work
•editing — look for changes in the pace of the cutting within the show, and for use of wipes, and dissolves?
•sound — diegetic sound or SFX (sound effects), non- diegetic music, use of silence in an interrogation scene perhaps
•mise-en-scène — sets, costumes, props (cars), locations (London, New York), acting
•ideology and values — are there firm values evident in the films – what are they?
•audience – describe the age and psychographics (usually aspirers and achivers) of the target audience