Argo

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tony Mendez sits alone in his sparse apartment, separated from his family, living a solitary life as a CIA operative. The opening establishes his isolation and compartmentalized existence before the crisis.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Tony is brought into a meeting where the CIA reveals the six houseguests hiding in Tehran. All proposed extraction plans are immediately shot down as unworkable - lives are at stake and there are no good options.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.

The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Tony's plan is approved. He boards a plane to Los Angeles to set up the fake Hollywood production with Lester Siegel and John Chambers. He fully commits to the absurd mission - there's no turning back., moving from reaction to action.

At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Tony arrives in Tehran and meets the six houseguests. They're terrified and skeptical of the plan. False defeat: the group doubts the mission will work, and Tony realizes the stakes are real - these are people, not just an operation. The ticking clock accelerates., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 89 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The mission is aborted by the White House. Jack O'Donnell calls to tell Tony the operation is cancelled - abandon the plan, leave the houseguests behind. This is the whiff of death: the mission dies, and with it, likely the six Americans., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.

The Second Threshold at 95 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Tony tells the houseguests, "We're going." Jack gets authorization restored just in time. The synthesis of Hollywood illusion and CIA tradecraft is complete - they commit to the final con at the airport. New information: they have backing again., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.