Beirut
Mason Skiles had a great life as a diplomat in Beirut. He and his wife, Nadia, live in a beautiful house and have been mentoring a thirteen year-old Palestinian boy named Karim. The opening scene is a party that the Stiles are hosting for other dignitaries. Karim is helping out serving the guests. When a CIA friend of Mason, Cal, comes to the party he is interested only in taking Karim in for questioning about an older brother Mason doesn't know about. What happens that night changes Mason's life forever, along several others at the party...
The film earned $7.5M 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%)
Beirut (2018) exemplifies strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Brad Anderson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 49 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Mason Skiles
Sandy Crowder
Donald Gaines
Gary Ruzak
Cal Riley
Main Cast & Characters
Mason Skiles
Played by Jon Hamm
A former U.S. diplomat haunted by tragedy who is reluctantly pulled back into Beirut to negotiate a hostage crisis involving someone from his past.
Sandy Crowder
Played by Rosamund Pike
A CIA field officer who recruits Mason back to Beirut and serves as his handler during the dangerous negotiation mission.
Donald Gaines
Played by Dean Norris
A CIA station chief in Beirut who is skeptical of Mason's involvement and represents official agency interests during the crisis.
Gary Ruzak
Played by Shea Whigham
A CIA operative working in Beirut who becomes the kidnapped hostage that sets the entire negotiation in motion.
Cal Riley
Played by Mark Pellegrino
Mason's former colleague and friend who tries to help him navigate the complex political landscape of 1980s Beirut.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes 1972 Beirut. Mason Skiles hosts a glamorous party at his home, showcasing his successful life as a top U.S. Diplomat with his wife Nadia, respected and connected in Lebanese society.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Armed men storm Mason's home to capture Karim, who is revealed to be the brother of a terrorist. In the chaos, Nadia is killed. Mason's perfect life shatters in an instant.. At 11% 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 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Mason agrees to return to Beirut despite his trauma. He boards the plane, choosing to face his past and re-enter the dangerous world he fled., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Mason meets face-to-face with Karim for the first time since the night Nadia died. Karim reveals he wants to exchange Cal for his brother, imprisoned by Israel. Mason realizes the depth of the conspiracy and that he's been manipulated by all sides. The stakes escalate dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The negotiation falls apart when the prisoner exchange location is compromised. Cal is moved and Mason loses contact with Karim. Mason's diplomatic approach seems to have failed completely, and Cal will likely be executed. Mason faces the possibility of another death on his conscience., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 87 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Mason realizes the solution: he must go outside official channels and negotiate directly with Karim, person to person, leveraging their shared history. He synthesizes his old diplomatic skills with the hard lessons learned about trust and personal accountability., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Beirut'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 Beirut against these established plot points, we can identify how Brad Anderson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Beirut within the action genre.
Brad Anderson's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Brad Anderson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Beirut represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Brad Anderson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Brad Anderson analyses, see The Machinist, The Call and TransSiberian.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
1972 Beirut. Mason Skiles hosts a glamorous party at his home, showcasing his successful life as a top U.S. diplomat with his wife Nadia, respected and connected in Lebanese society.
Theme
A guest remarks about the complexity of Lebanese politics and how "everybody here has their own agenda." This establishes the theme of trust, betrayal, and the personal cost of geopolitical games.
Worldbuilding
The party continues as Mason navigates political conversations. We learn he's taken in Karim, a 13-year-old Palestinian boy. The atmosphere is sophisticated but tense, revealing the fragile peace of 1972 Beirut and Mason's role as a skilled negotiator.
Disruption
Armed men storm Mason's home to capture Karim, who is revealed to be the brother of a terrorist. In the chaos, Nadia is killed. Mason's perfect life shatters in an instant.
Resistance
Ten years later, 1982. Mason is now a burned-out alcoholic labor negotiator in the U.S. He's approached by CIA operatives who need him to return to Beirut to negotiate the release of a kidnapped colleague, Cal Riley. Mason initially resists, haunted by his past.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mason agrees to return to Beirut despite his trauma. He boards the plane, choosing to face his past and re-enter the dangerous world he fled.
Mirror World
Mason meets Sandy Crowder, a CIA officer who becomes his handler and connection to the mission. Their relationship will challenge Mason's cynicism and force him to trust again.
Premise
Mason navigates war-torn Beirut, reconnecting with old contacts and gathering intelligence. He learns the kidnapper is Karim, now grown. Mason uses his negotiation skills to establish communication channels while dealing with competing interests from CIA, Mossad, and various Lebanese factions.
Midpoint
Mason meets face-to-face with Karim for the first time since the night Nadia died. Karim reveals he wants to exchange Cal for his brother, imprisoned by Israel. Mason realizes the depth of the conspiracy and that he's been manipulated by all sides. The stakes escalate dramatically.
Opposition
Mason works to broker the deal while discovering betrayals at every level. The CIA has their own agenda, Mossad is interfering, and various factions are playing him. His contacts are killed. Sandy is revealed to have hidden information. The window for negotiation narrows as violence escalates.
Collapse
The negotiation falls apart when the prisoner exchange location is compromised. Cal is moved and Mason loses contact with Karim. Mason's diplomatic approach seems to have failed completely, and Cal will likely be executed. Mason faces the possibility of another death on his conscience.
Crisis
Mason contemplates giving up and leaving Beirut again. He drinks heavily, confronting his guilt over Nadia's death and his inability to save Cal. Sandy challenges him to finish what he started.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mason realizes the solution: he must go outside official channels and negotiate directly with Karim, person to person, leveraging their shared history. He synthesizes his old diplomatic skills with the hard lessons learned about trust and personal accountability.
Synthesis
Mason orchestrates a final exchange, outmaneuvering the CIA and other factions. He meets Karim and negotiates Cal's release through a personal appeal, acknowledging the past and offering genuine human connection rather than political maneuvering. The exchange occurs amid crossfire, but Mason completes the mission.
Transformation
Mason prepares to leave Beirut again, but this time he's no longer running. He's made peace with his past, saved Cal, and reconnected with his purpose. He shares a meaningful look with Sandy before departing, suggesting he's capable of trust and connection again.