Asphalt Jungle at times has the feel of a documentary. It also uses the setting of a modern city to accent the sense of despair and alienation that runs through the story.  The gritty urban landscape is a crucial element in the film, one that impacts the narrative,  and the characters.   Asphalt Jungle is different in that the criminal element is given human dimension.No only is sympathy  created for the gang, but respect is shown  for the way they do their jobs.Instead of painting them as immoral thugs and murderers,they are instilled with human weaknesses, and distinctive behavior that viewers would not expect in a movie about criminals. Additionally, the women in The Asphalt Jungle are not femme fatales, luring men to their doom. Instead, it is their devotion and commitment to these men which bring them bad luck and misery.