Aloha
A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and re-connects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.
The film struggled financially against its moderate budget of $37.0M, earning $26.3M globally (-29% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the drama genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Aloha (2015) demonstrates carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Cameron Crowe's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Brian Gilcrest
Allison Ng
Tracy Woodside
Woody Woodside
Carson Welch
General Dixon
Main Cast & Characters
Brian Gilcrest
Played by Bradley Cooper
A military contractor returning to Hawaii to launch a satellite, haunted by past failures and seeking redemption.
Allison Ng
Played by Emma Stone
An idealistic Air Force pilot assigned to oversee Brian's mission, passionate about Hawaiian culture and heritage.
Tracy Woodside
Played by Rachel McAdams
Brian's former girlfriend, now married with children, still harboring unresolved feelings from their past relationship.
Woody Woodside
Played by John Krasinski
Tracy's husband, a strong and silent military pilot who communicates more through actions than words.
Carson Welch
Played by Bill Murray
A billionaire entrepreneur with hidden agendas regarding the satellite launch and military contracts.
General Dixon
Played by Alec Baldwin
A high-ranking military officer overseeing operations and maintaining protocol throughout the mission.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Brian Gilcrest arrives in Hawaii, visibly wounded and defeated from his past as a military contractor. His glory days are behind him, and he's barely holding on to his career.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Brian encounters his ex-girlfriend Tracy, now married to Woody with two children. The past he tried to escape confronts him directly, threatening his ability to stay emotionally detached and complete his mission.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Brian chooses to genuinely engage with the Hawaiian blessing ceremony rather than merely go through the motions. He begins to open himself to authentic connection, both with the land and with Allison., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Brian discovers that Tracy's daughter Grace may be his biological child. This revelation raises the stakes dramatically - his past isn't just unresolved, it includes a responsibility he never knew about. The mission also becomes compromised as Carson Welch's true intentions are revealed., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Allison discovers Brian's lies and manipulations. She rejects him, feeling used and betrayed. Brian loses both his chance at redemption through love and his integrity regarding the mission. He's alone, having hurt everyone who trusted him., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Brian chooses integrity over self-interest. He decides to expose Carson Welch's weaponization of the satellite and make things right, regardless of the cost to his career. He synthesizes Allison's authenticity with his own skills to take meaningful action., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Aloha's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Aloha against these established plot points, we can identify how Cameron Crowe utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Aloha within the drama genre.
Cameron Crowe's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Cameron Crowe films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Aloha represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Cameron Crowe filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Cameron Crowe analyses, see Jerry Maguire, Singles and We Bought a Zoo.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Brian Gilcrest arrives in Hawaii, visibly wounded and defeated from his past as a military contractor. His glory days are behind him, and he's barely holding on to his career.
Theme
General Dixon tells Brian that Hawaii is about "the future, not the past" - establishing the theme of redemption and moving forward versus being stuck in past mistakes.
Worldbuilding
Brian's world is established: his failed relationship with Tracy, his compromised ethics working for billionaire Carson Welch, his assignment with eager Captain Allison Ng, and the military space program mission he's been brought in to facilitate.
Disruption
Brian encounters his ex-girlfriend Tracy, now married to Woody with two children. The past he tried to escape confronts him directly, threatening his ability to stay emotionally detached and complete his mission.
Resistance
Allison serves as Brian's guide, pushing him to engage authentically with the Hawaiian culture and the native sovereignty leaders. Brian resists genuine connection, trying to manipulate the blessing ceremony while Tracy's presence continues to unsettle him.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Brian chooses to genuinely engage with the Hawaiian blessing ceremony rather than merely go through the motions. He begins to open himself to authentic connection, both with the land and with Allison.
Mirror World
Allison Ng fully emerges as Brian's thematic mirror - her optimism, authenticity, and quarter-Hawaiian heritage represent everything he's lost. Their developing connection shows him a path to redemption through genuine feeling.
Premise
Brian navigates between two relationships: growing closer to Allison while being pulled back into Tracy's orbit. He works the mission, enjoys Hawaiian adventures, and begins to remember who he was before cynicism took over. The promise of redemption and new love.
Midpoint
Brian discovers that Tracy's daughter Grace may be his biological child. This revelation raises the stakes dramatically - his past isn't just unresolved, it includes a responsibility he never knew about. The mission also becomes compromised as Carson Welch's true intentions are revealed.
Opposition
Brian is torn between competing loyalties: his feelings for Allison, his obligation to Tracy and possibly Grace, his compromised mission for Carson, and his need to do the right thing. The pressure intensifies as the satellite launch approaches and all his deceptions threaten to collapse.
Collapse
Allison discovers Brian's lies and manipulations. She rejects him, feeling used and betrayed. Brian loses both his chance at redemption through love and his integrity regarding the mission. He's alone, having hurt everyone who trusted him.
Crisis
Brian sits with his failure, finally confronting his pattern of cynicism and manipulation. He processes the loss of Allison and faces the truth about Tracy and Grace. The satellite launch looms as his moment of decision approaches.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Brian chooses integrity over self-interest. He decides to expose Carson Welch's weaponization of the satellite and make things right, regardless of the cost to his career. He synthesizes Allison's authenticity with his own skills to take meaningful action.
Synthesis
Brian confronts Carson and the military leadership, stopping the weaponized satellite. He makes peace with Tracy and Woody, acknowledging Grace without disrupting her family. He pursues Allison with genuine vulnerability, finally being the authentic person he was meant to be.
Transformation
Brian and Allison reunite at the airport. Unlike his arrival as a broken, cynical man, Brian is now open, authentic, and ready for real connection. He has reclaimed his integrity and his future, choosing love and meaning over self-protection.