Eddie
Eddie is a New York limo driver and a fanatical follower of the New York Knicks professional basketball team. The team is struggling with a mediocre record when, in mid-season, "Wild Bill" Burgess, the new owner, as a public relations gimmick, stages an 'honorary coach' contest, which Eddie wins. The fans love it, so "Wild Bill" fires the coach and hires her. She takes the bunch of overpaid prima
Working with a moderate budget of $30.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $31.4M in global revenue (+5% 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%)
Eddie (1996) reveals deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Steve Rash's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Eddie Franklin is a passionate, loudmouthed New York Knicks superfan who watches games from the nosebleed seats, living her ordinary life as a limo driver with an obsessive love for basketball.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Eddie wins a halftime contest and gets to be "Honorary Coach" for one possession, where she boldly calls a play that actually works, catching the attention of the team owner.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Eddie accepts the job as head coach of the New York Knicks, making the active choice to leave her ordinary life and step into the professional basketball world despite having no coaching experience., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The Knicks win several games in a row under Eddie's coaching, earning genuine respect from some players and media. False victory: Eddie appears to have proven herself, but the team's prima donna stars still resist her authority., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The team suffers a devastating loss and/or the players publicly rebel against Eddie's coaching. The owner threatens to fire her, and Eddie faces the death of her dream - she may have been just a publicity stunt after all., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Eddie realizes the answer isn't about proving herself to the players or media - it's about bringing the team together and remembering why she loves the game. She synthesizes her fan's passion with hard-earned coaching wisdom., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Eddie'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 Eddie against these established plot points, we can identify how Steve Rash utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Eddie within the action genre.
Steve Rash's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Steve Rash films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Eddie represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Steve Rash filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Steve Rash analyses, see Son in Law, The Buddy Holly Story and Can't Buy Me Love.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Eddie Franklin is a passionate, loudmouthed New York Knicks superfan who watches games from the nosebleed seats, living her ordinary life as a limo driver with an obsessive love for basketball.
Theme
A character remarks about believing in yourself and taking your shot when opportunity comes - foreshadowing Eddie's journey from fan to coach.
Worldbuilding
Eddie's world is established: her working-class life, her encyclopedic basketball knowledge, the struggling Knicks team, and the arrogant new owner who acquires the franchise.
Disruption
Eddie wins a halftime contest and gets to be "Honorary Coach" for one possession, where she boldly calls a play that actually works, catching the attention of the team owner.
Resistance
The eccentric owner, looking for a publicity stunt, considers making Eddie the actual coach. Eddie debates whether this is real or a joke, while the current coach is fired for poor performance.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Eddie accepts the job as head coach of the New York Knicks, making the active choice to leave her ordinary life and step into the professional basketball world despite having no coaching experience.
Mirror World
Eddie connects with the team's assistant coaches and begins forming relationships with key players, particularly the team's star who will serve as her thematic mirror - both need to learn about respect and teamwork.
Premise
The "fun and games" of a regular fan coaching a professional team: Eddie's unorthodox methods, clashes with egotistical players, media circus, and initial small victories that show her street-smart approach might actually work.
Midpoint
The Knicks win several games in a row under Eddie's coaching, earning genuine respect from some players and media. False victory: Eddie appears to have proven herself, but the team's prima donna stars still resist her authority.
Opposition
Players' egos resurface, internal conflicts intensify, media scrutiny increases, and the owner's commitment wavers. Eddie's lack of professional credentials becomes ammunition for critics. The team starts losing again.
Collapse
The team suffers a devastating loss and/or the players publicly rebel against Eddie's coaching. The owner threatens to fire her, and Eddie faces the death of her dream - she may have been just a publicity stunt after all.
Crisis
Eddie processes her failure, questioning whether she ever belonged in this world. Dark night of the soul where she must decide if she'll quit or fight for what she believes in.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Eddie realizes the answer isn't about proving herself to the players or media - it's about bringing the team together and remembering why she loves the game. She synthesizes her fan's passion with hard-earned coaching wisdom.
Synthesis
Eddie rallies the team with renewed authenticity, the players finally buy in completely, and they face their biggest challenge together. The finale shows Eddie coaching the crucial game where everything comes together.
Transformation
Eddie stands on the sideline as a legitimate, respected coach - no longer just a fan living a dream, but a leader who earned her place. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows complete transformation.