Blue Streak
Miles Logan is a jewel thief who just hit the big time by stealing a huge diamond. However, after two years in jail, he comes to find out that he hid the diamond in a police building that was being built at the time of the robbery. In an attempt to regain his diamond, he poses as an LAPD detective.
Working with a mid-range budget of $65.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $117.8M in global revenue (+81% profit margin).
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%)
Blue Streak (1999) showcases meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Les Mayfield's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 33 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Miles Logan
Carlson
Detective Hardcastle
Tulley
Melissa Green
Uncle Lou
Deacon
Main Cast & Characters
Miles Logan
Played by Martin Lawrence
A clever jewel thief who poses as a police detective to retrieve a hidden diamond from a building that became a police station.
Carlson
Played by Peter Greene
Miles' former partner in crime who betrays him during the diamond heist and tries to retrieve the diamond for himself.
Detective Hardcastle
Played by Luke Wilson
A by-the-book, no-nonsense detective who becomes Miles' reluctant partner while he's undercover as a cop.
Tulley
Played by Dave Chappelle
An enthusiastic, bumbling detective who idolizes Miles and becomes his loyal sidekick at the precinct.
Melissa Green
Played by Nicole Ari Parker
An intelligent FBI agent investigating a drug operation who develops a romantic connection with Miles.
Uncle Lou
Played by Richard C. Sarafian
Miles' fence and mentor in the criminal world who helps him plan the diamond retrieval.
Deacon
Played by William Forsythe
Carlson's criminal associate who helps him search for the diamond.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Miles Logan is a skilled jewel thief executing a diamond heist with his crew, establishing his life of crime and quick-thinking abilities in his criminal world.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Miles is released from prison and returns to retrieve the diamond, only to discover the construction site is now a fully operational police station.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Miles actively chooses to walk into the police station posing as Detective Malone, a transfer from out of town, committing fully to the undercover charade., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: Miles successfully locates and retrieves the diamond from the ductwork. He has what he came for and could leave, but he's now deeply embedded in the police department and a major case., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 70 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Miles's true identity is exposed to the police squad. His lies unravel completely, destroying the relationships and respect he'd built. The life he'd grown to value dies, and he faces arrest., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Miles chooses to use his criminal skills for good, helping the police take down Deacon and the real criminals. He synthesizes both identities to become something new: a thief with a conscience., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Blue Streak'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 Blue Streak against these established plot points, we can identify how Les Mayfield utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Blue Streak within the action genre.
Les Mayfield's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Les Mayfield films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Blue Streak takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Les Mayfield filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Les Mayfield analyses, see Flubber, Code Name: The Cleaner and Encino Man.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Miles Logan is a skilled jewel thief executing a diamond heist with his crew, establishing his life of crime and quick-thinking abilities in his criminal world.
Theme
During the heist aftermath, a character comments on trust and deception, foreshadowing the central question: Can you build something real on a foundation of lies?
Worldbuilding
The heist goes wrong when Miles is betrayed by his partner Deacon. Miles hides the diamond in a construction site ductwork before being arrested and sent to prison for two years.
Disruption
Miles is released from prison and returns to retrieve the diamond, only to discover the construction site is now a fully operational police station.
Resistance
Miles debates how to get into the police station. His uncle Lou helps him create a fake detective identity, complete with credentials and backstory. Miles resists but realizes he has no choice.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Miles actively chooses to walk into the police station posing as Detective Malone, a transfer from out of town, committing fully to the undercover charade.
Mirror World
Miles meets Detective Carlson, his new partner, and begins forming genuine relationships with the police squad, particularly connecting with Melissa the detective who represents authenticity and honesty.
Premise
The fun and games of Miles pretending to be a cop: he accidentally becomes good at police work using his criminal knowledge, impresses the squad, gets closer to the diamond, and develops real feelings for his new life.
Midpoint
False victory: Miles successfully locates and retrieves the diamond from the ductwork. He has what he came for and could leave, but he's now deeply embedded in the police department and a major case.
Opposition
The stakes escalate: Deacon resurfaces looking for the diamond, a real FBI investigation threatens to expose Miles, his police work gets more serious, and his lies become harder to maintain as relationships deepen.
Collapse
Miles's true identity is exposed to the police squad. His lies unravel completely, destroying the relationships and respect he'd built. The life he'd grown to value dies, and he faces arrest.
Crisis
Miles processes the loss of his new identity and the genuine connections he made. He must confront who he really is and what matters more: the diamond and his criminal life, or the person he became.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Miles chooses to use his criminal skills for good, helping the police take down Deacon and the real criminals. He synthesizes both identities to become something new: a thief with a conscience.
Synthesis
The finale: Miles orchestrates a plan combining his criminal expertise with his police training to stop Deacon, save his friends, and prove his transformation is real, not just another con.
Transformation
Miles has earned redemption and genuine respect from the squad. Unlike the opening where he was a selfish thief, he's now someone who chose integrity over the score, transformed by the experience.