Analyze This
Living in the shadow of his famous psychiatrist father, with multiple issues to deal with while getting ready to remarry, the New York City psychologist, Dr Ben Sobel, has one more problem to take care of, after a fender bender with the powerful mob boss, Paul Vitti. Secretly suffering from intense anxiety attacks that render him incapable of doing what he is best at, the notorious gangster decides to pay the good doctor a visit, hell-bent on resolving his deep-seated issues before the annual meeting of Big Apple's Mafia Dons. Now, Ben has a pressing two-week deadline to come up with an effective solution, as his conflicted but dangerous patient takes no for an answer. Can Ben analyse this?
Despite a substantial budget of $80.0M, Analyze This became a commercial success, earning $176.9M worldwide—a 121% return.
4 wins & 7 nominations
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%)
Analyze This (1999) reveals strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Harold Ramis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Dr. Ben Sobel
Paul Vitti
Laura MacNamara Sobel
Jelly
Agent Ben Steadman
Primo Sindone
Main Cast & Characters
Dr. Ben Sobel
Played by Billy Crystal
A neurotic psychiatrist whose life is turned upside down when he becomes therapist to a powerful mob boss experiencing anxiety attacks.
Paul Vitti
Played by Robert De Niro
A powerful New York mob boss who begins having panic attacks and reluctantly seeks psychiatric help to maintain his position and sanity.
Laura MacNamara Sobel
Played by Lisa Kudrow
Ben's patient and supportive fiancée who becomes increasingly concerned about the dangerous situation her future husband has gotten into.
Jelly
Played by Joe Viterelli
Paul Vitti's loyal and protective bodyguard/consigliere who is initially suspicious of Dr. Sobel but comes to respect the therapeutic process.
Agent Ben Steadman
Played by Kyle Sabihy
An FBI agent who attempts to leverage Ben's connection to Vitti to gather intelligence on the mob.
Primo Sindone
Played by Chazz Palminteri
A rival mob boss who seeks to take advantage of Vitti's perceived weakness and seize control of his territory.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Paul Vitti, a powerful mob boss, attends a sit-down meeting with rival families in Little Italy, appearing confident and in control of his criminal empire.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Paul Vitti has his first panic attack during sex with his mistress, leaving him terrified and vulnerable. This psychological collapse threatens everything he represents as a mob boss.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Ben agrees to treat Paul Vitti, making the active choice to enter the dangerous world of the mob despite his fears. He accepts Paul as a patient during their first official session., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Breakthrough session where Paul finally opens up about his feelings regarding his father's death, crying for the first time. This false victory makes it seem like Paul is cured, but he's still not ready to change his life., 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 (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Paul beats up Ben, rejecting the therapy and his own vulnerability. This betrayal is the death of their therapeutic relationship and Ben's hope of helping Paul. Ben is left beaten and humiliated., illustrates 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 81% of the runtime. Ben discovers the syndicate meeting plan and realizes Paul will be killed. Despite everything, Ben chooses to save Paul, combining his therapeutic insights with decisive action. He synthesizes empathy with courage., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Analyze This's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Analyze This against these established plot points, we can identify how Harold Ramis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Analyze This within the comedy genre.
Harold Ramis's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Harold Ramis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Analyze This takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Harold Ramis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Harold Ramis analyses, see Club Paradise, Multiplicity and The Ice Harvest.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Paul Vitti, a powerful mob boss, attends a sit-down meeting with rival families in Little Italy, appearing confident and in control of his criminal empire.
Theme
Ben Sobel's father tells him during a therapy session flashback that he needs to help people with their problems, establishing the theme of healing and vulnerability versus toughness.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to both worlds: Paul Vitti's mob life with escalating family tensions after Dominic's death, and Ben Sobel's psychiatry practice and upcoming wedding. Ben is risk-averse, Paul is powerful but increasingly unstable.
Disruption
Paul Vitti has his first panic attack during sex with his mistress, leaving him terrified and vulnerable. This psychological collapse threatens everything he represents as a mob boss.
Resistance
After a fender-bender brings them together, Jelly pressures Ben to see Paul. Ben resists helping a mobster, but Paul's crew intimidates him. Ben debates whether to get involved with someone so dangerous.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ben agrees to treat Paul Vitti, making the active choice to enter the dangerous world of the mob despite his fears. He accepts Paul as a patient during their first official session.
Mirror World
Ben's relationship with his fiancée Laura deepens as she supports him through this crisis. She represents the normal, safe life that contrasts with Paul's violent world, embodying the theme of emotional honesty.
Premise
The fun of the premise: therapy sessions with a mob boss. Ben tries various techniques while Paul resists vulnerability. Comic moments include Paul's crew interrupting sessions, Ben analyzing mob hits, and the culture clash between psychiatry and organized crime.
Midpoint
Breakthrough session where Paul finally opens up about his feelings regarding his father's death, crying for the first time. This false victory makes it seem like Paul is cured, but he's still not ready to change his life.
Opposition
The mob families close in. Syndicate meeting approaches, assassination attempts escalate, and Paul's rivals sense weakness. Ben's wedding is hijacked by mob chaos. FBI pressure increases. Paul reverts to violence, and Ben's normal life falls apart.
Collapse
Paul beats up Ben, rejecting the therapy and his own vulnerability. This betrayal is the death of their therapeutic relationship and Ben's hope of helping Paul. Ben is left beaten and humiliated.
Crisis
Ben processes the betrayal and violence, questioning whether Paul can change or whether he wasted his time. Meanwhile, Paul prepares for the syndicate meeting, seemingly unchanged and ready to return to his old ways.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ben discovers the syndicate meeting plan and realizes Paul will be killed. Despite everything, Ben chooses to save Paul, combining his therapeutic insights with decisive action. He synthesizes empathy with courage.
Synthesis
Ben crashes the syndicate meeting and helps expose the traitor. Paul uses both violence and emotional intelligence to resolve the conflict. Ben stands up to the mobsters, and Paul finally makes a real change, turning himself in to the FBI.
Transformation
Ben and Paul meet one last time in prison. Paul thanks Ben and shows genuine emotional growth. Ben has transformed from fearful and passive to courageous and assertive. Both men have changed each other.