Amos & Andrew
When Andrew Sterling, a successful black urbanite writer buys a vacation house on a resort in New England the police mistake him for a burglar. After surrounding his house with armed men, Chief Tolliver realizes his mistake, and to avoid the bad publicity offers Amos Odell, a thief in his jail, a deal. Amos is to pretend to take Andrew prisoner and hold him for ransom, but let him go and escape. Amos and Andrew suddenly realize that the Chief's problems are all gone if the two of them both die in a gun battle. The worst partnership in film history then tries to get away from the local police.
The film earned $9.7M at the global box office.
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%)
Amos & Andrew (1993) showcases carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of E. Max Frye's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 36 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Andrew Sterling
Amos Odell
Chief Burnell
Phil Gillman
Main Cast & Characters
Andrew Sterling
Played by Samuel L. Jackson
A successful African-American playwright mistaken for a burglar by his wealthy neighbors, forced to play hostage in a botched police cover-up.
Amos Odell
Played by Nicolas Cage
A small-time criminal forced by police to pose as a hostage-taker to cover up their racist mistake.
Chief Burnell
Played by Dabney Coleman
The local police chief desperately trying to cover up his department's racist blunder before it becomes a media disaster.
Phil Gillman
Played by Brad Dourif
Andrew's opportunistic publicist who sees the hostage situation as a career-boosting opportunity.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Andrew Sterling, a successful Black playwright, arrives at his new vacation home on a prestigious island, while petty thief Amos Odell is arrested for stealing lobsters.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Neighbors mistake Andrew for a burglar in his own home and call the police, triggering a SWAT response and media frenzy based on racist assumptions.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Chief Tolliver makes the desperate decision to break Amos out of jail and force him to pretend to be a criminal holding Andrew hostage, entering a world of elaborate deception., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The plan begins to unravel as Amos and Andrew realize the police have no intention of letting them both walk away free; the stakes are raised as they become genuine allies against Tolliver., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The scheme falls apart completely; their escape plan fails and both men face potential death or imprisonment as Tolliver's desperation reaches its peak and violence becomes imminent., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Amos and Andrew devise a new plan using their combined street smarts and resources, choosing to expose Tolliver's corruption and turn the tables on their oppressors with newfound unity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Amos & Andrew's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Amos & Andrew against these established plot points, we can identify how E. Max Frye utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Amos & Andrew within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Andrew Sterling, a successful Black playwright, arrives at his new vacation home on a prestigious island, while petty thief Amos Odell is arrested for stealing lobsters.
Theme
A character comments on assumptions people make based on appearances and race, foreshadowing the film's exploration of prejudice and misunderstanding.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the wealthy island community, Andrew settling into his home, and the establishment of the neighbors' casual racism and suspicion of a Black man in their neighborhood.
Disruption
Neighbors mistake Andrew for a burglar in his own home and call the police, triggering a SWAT response and media frenzy based on racist assumptions.
Resistance
Police Chief Tolliver realizes the catastrophic mistake but fears career-ending consequences. He debates how to handle the situation as media arrives and Andrew becomes trapped in his own home.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Chief Tolliver makes the desperate decision to break Amos out of jail and force him to pretend to be a criminal holding Andrew hostage, entering a world of elaborate deception.
Mirror World
Amos and Andrew first interact as fake captor and captive, beginning an unlikely relationship that will explore themes of race, class, and mutual understanding despite their forced situation.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the fake hostage situation: Amos and Andrew navigate their odd partnership, the media circus escalates, and both men discover unexpected common ground while maintaining the charade.
Midpoint
The plan begins to unravel as Amos and Andrew realize the police have no intention of letting them both walk away free; the stakes are raised as they become genuine allies against Tolliver.
Opposition
Tolliver escalates his attempts to control the situation; Amos and Andrew's fragile alliance is tested as they try to outmaneuver the police while dealing with their own conflicts and the media pressure.
Collapse
The scheme falls apart completely; their escape plan fails and both men face potential death or imprisonment as Tolliver's desperation reaches its peak and violence becomes imminent.
Crisis
Amos and Andrew hit rock bottom, confronting the reality that the system is rigged against both of them in different ways, processing their shared victimhood and finding resolve to fight back together.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Amos and Andrew devise a new plan using their combined street smarts and resources, choosing to expose Tolliver's corruption and turn the tables on their oppressors with newfound unity.
Synthesis
The finale: Amos and Andrew execute their counter-plan, expose the truth to the media, outmaneuver Tolliver, and achieve freedom while forcing accountability for the racist assumptions and police corruption.
Transformation
Andrew and Amos part as genuine friends who have transcended their initial circumstances and learned from each other, transformed by their shared struggle against prejudice and injustice.