Brick Mansions
In a dystopian Detroit, grand houses that once housed the wealthy are now homes of the city's most-dangerous criminals. Surrounding the area is a giant wall to keep the rest of Detroit safe. For undercover cop Damien Collier, every day is a battle against corruption as he struggles to bring his father's killer, Tremaine, to justice. Meanwhile, Damien and an ex-con named Lino work together to save the city from a plot to destroy it.
Despite a moderate budget of $28.0M, Brick Mansions became a commercial success, earning $71.4M worldwide—a 155% return.
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%)
Brick Mansions (2014) showcases carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Camille Delamarre's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Damien Collier
Lino Dupree
Tremaine Alexander
Lola
Main Cast & Characters
Damien Collier
Played by Paul Walker
An undercover Detroit police detective skilled in combat who seeks justice for his father's murder while attempting to stop a neutron bomb threat in Brick Mansions.
Lino Dupree
Played by David Belle
A parkour expert and ex-convict living in Brick Mansions who fights to protect his neighborhood and ex-girlfriend from the crime lord Tremaine.
Tremaine Alexander
Played by RZA
The ruthless crime lord who controls Brick Mansions through violence and drug trafficking, serving as the primary antagonist.
Lola
Played by Catalina Denis
Lino's ex-girlfriend who is captured by Tremaine and held hostage, working as a bartender in Brick Mansions.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Brick Mansions, a walled-off slum in Detroit, 2018. Lino escapes drug lord Tremaine's men with a massive brick of cocaine, demonstrating his parkour skills through the dangerous district.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Tremaine kidnaps Lola to punish Lino for destroying his cocaine. Lino's attempt to save her fails and he's arrested by corrupt cops, framed and sent to prison.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Damien actively chooses to break Lino out of prison to use him as a guide into Brick Mansions. They form an uneasy alliance to infiltrate the district together., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False defeat: They find Tremaine and the bomb, but Tremaine reveals the bomb is set to detonate. Lola is held hostage. The stakes raise dramatically - it's no longer just about revenge, but about saving the entire district., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Damien and Lino discover the truth - the mayor plans to detonate the bomb intentionally to destroy Brick Mansions and claim the valuable land. Their government betrayed them. Everyone they're trying to save will die., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Synthesis and breakthrough: Damien and Lino decide to work together with Tremaine and the residents of Brick Mansions to expose the mayor's plot. Former enemies unite against the corrupt system. They devise a plan to broadcast the truth., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Brick Mansions'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 Brick Mansions against these established plot points, we can identify how Camille Delamarre utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Brick Mansions within the action genre.
Camille Delamarre's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Camille Delamarre films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Brick Mansions represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Camille Delamarre filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Camille Delamarre analyses, see The Transporter Refueled.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Brick Mansions, a walled-off slum in Detroit, 2018. Lino escapes drug lord Tremaine's men with a massive brick of cocaine, demonstrating his parkour skills through the dangerous district.
Theme
Lino tells Tremaine: "You don't own Brick Mansions. The people do." Theme of community vs. corruption, individual action vs. systemic decay.
Worldbuilding
Establishing the dystopian world: Brick Mansions is a lawless zone abandoned by police. Lino is an ex-con trying to clean up his neighborhood. Tremaine runs the drug trade. We meet Lola, Lino's ex-girlfriend who works at Tremaine's club.
Disruption
Tremaine kidnaps Lola to punish Lino for destroying his cocaine. Lino's attempt to save her fails and he's arrested by corrupt cops, framed and sent to prison.
Resistance
Six months later. Introduction of Damien Collier, undercover cop whose father was killed by Tremaine. Mayor's office reveals a neutron bomb has been stolen and is inside Brick Mansions. Damien debates taking the mission but is motivated by revenge and duty.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Damien actively chooses to break Lino out of prison to use him as a guide into Brick Mansions. They form an uneasy alliance to infiltrate the district together.
Mirror World
Lino and Damien enter Brick Mansions together. Their partnership represents the theme: cop and ex-con, both seeking justice in a corrupt system. Lino's knowledge of the streets complements Damien's training.
Premise
The "fun and games" of infiltrating Brick Mansions. Parkour action sequences, fighting through gang territories, navigating the lawless zone. Lino and Damien develop mutual respect while searching for both Lola and the bomb.
Midpoint
False defeat: They find Tremaine and the bomb, but Tremaine reveals the bomb is set to detonate. Lola is held hostage. The stakes raise dramatically - it's no longer just about revenge, but about saving the entire district.
Opposition
Tremaine tightens his grip. Damien and Lino fight through more henchmen. Tensions rise between the partners as Damien's true mission conflicts with Lino's desire to save Lola. They discover the bomb's detonator is with Tremaine.
Collapse
All is lost: Damien and Lino discover the truth - the mayor plans to detonate the bomb intentionally to destroy Brick Mansions and claim the valuable land. Their government betrayed them. Everyone they're trying to save will die.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul. Damien struggles with his oath to the police versus doing what's right. Lino questions whether fighting for his neighborhood was ever worth it. They must decide whether to follow orders or save innocent lives.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Synthesis and breakthrough: Damien and Lino decide to work together with Tremaine and the residents of Brick Mansions to expose the mayor's plot. Former enemies unite against the corrupt system. They devise a plan to broadcast the truth.
Synthesis
The finale: Damien confronts the mayor via video link, exposing the conspiracy to the media and public. They disable the bomb. Tremaine sacrifices himself to help save the district. The community stands together demanding justice.
Transformation
Final image: Brick Mansions is no longer abandoned by the government. Damien has learned that real justice sometimes means breaking the rules. Lino is reunited with Lola. The community begins to rebuild, proving the theme - the people, not criminals or corrupt officials, own Brick Mansions.