Heist
Joe Moore has a job he loves. He's a thief. His job goes sour when he gets caught on security camera tape. His fence, Bergman reneges on the money he's owed, and his wife may be betraying him with the fence's young lieutenant. Moore and his partner, Bobby Blane and their utility man, Pinky Pincus find themselves broke, betrayed, and blackmailed. Moore is forced to commit his crew to do one last big job.
The film struggled financially against its respectable budget of $35.0M, earning $28.5M globally (-19% loss).
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%)
Heist (2001) exhibits meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of David Mamet's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Joe Moore executes a meticulous jewelry store heist with his crew, demonstrating his skills as a master thief who operates with precision and professionalism in his criminal world.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Bergman withholds Joe's money from the jewelry heist and blackmails him into doing one more job—stealing Swiss gold from an airplane—or he won't pay what he's owed. Joe's retirement dream is suddenly held hostage.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Joe commits to the airport gold heist, accepting Jimmy onto the team despite his misgivings. This decision launches him into a dangerous game where his control and trust will be tested at every turn., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The airport heist succeeds brilliantly—they have the gold. False victory: Joe thinks he can finally retire and sail away with Fran. But Bergman and Jimmy have other plans, and Joe's face on that camera still haunts him., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Pinky is shot and killed during a confrontation. Joe loses his loyal friend, and the dream of a clean escape dies with him. The whiff of death is literal—Joe's world has turned lethal, and his crew is broken., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Joe realizes the gold heist was itself a misdirection—he's been planning a con on top of the con all along. He synthesizes his experience with new information about who he can trust, and commits to his final play against Bergman., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Heist'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 Heist against these established plot points, we can identify how David Mamet utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Heist within the action genre.
David Mamet's Structural Approach
Among the 4 David Mamet films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Heist represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete David Mamet filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more David Mamet analyses, see The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main and Spartan.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Joe Moore executes a meticulous jewelry store heist with his crew, demonstrating his skills as a master thief who operates with precision and professionalism in his criminal world.
Theme
Fran tells Joe, "You're too old to go to jail, and you're too proud to run," establishing the film's central theme about aging criminals trying to escape their past while their pride keeps pulling them back in.
Worldbuilding
Joe's face is caught on surveillance camera during the jewelry heist. We meet his crew: Bobby, Don "Pinky" Pincus, and his wife Fran. Joe wants to retire to his boat, but fence Bergman refuses to pay full price and demands one more job.
Disruption
Bergman withholds Joe's money from the jewelry heist and blackmails him into doing one more job—stealing Swiss gold from an airplane—or he won't pay what he's owed. Joe's retirement dream is suddenly held hostage.
Resistance
Joe resists but needs the money. Bergman insists his nephew Jimmy Silk join the crew. Joe and his team debate whether to trust Jimmy and plan the airport heist. Tension builds between Joe's experience and Jimmy's cocky ambition.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Joe commits to the airport gold heist, accepting Jimmy onto the team despite his misgivings. This decision launches him into a dangerous game where his control and trust will be tested at every turn.
Mirror World
Jimmy Silk becomes the thematic mirror—representing reckless youth versus Joe's careful experience. Jimmy's attraction to Fran and his impulsive nature contrast with Joe's methodical approach, embodying the generational tension.
Premise
The crew executes the elaborate airport heist with multiple misdirections and cons-within-cons. Joe demonstrates his brilliance as they successfully steal the gold using disguises, diversions, and precision timing—the "heist movie" promise delivered.
Midpoint
The airport heist succeeds brilliantly—they have the gold. False victory: Joe thinks he can finally retire and sail away with Fran. But Bergman and Jimmy have other plans, and Joe's face on that camera still haunts him.
Opposition
Bergman tries to cut Joe out and keep the gold. Jimmy's loyalty wavers as he's caught between Bergman and growing respect for Joe. The crew splinters, betrayals multiply, and Joe must stay one step ahead while the law and criminals both close in.
Collapse
Pinky is shot and killed during a confrontation. Joe loses his loyal friend, and the dream of a clean escape dies with him. The whiff of death is literal—Joe's world has turned lethal, and his crew is broken.
Crisis
Joe mourns Pinky and confronts the reality that retirement may be impossible. He processes the betrayal, the violence, and whether his skills can overcome the forces arrayed against him. Dark reflection before the final move.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Joe realizes the gold heist was itself a misdirection—he's been planning a con on top of the con all along. He synthesizes his experience with new information about who he can trust, and commits to his final play against Bergman.
Synthesis
Joe executes his ultimate counter-scheme: the gold was switched, Bergman gets caught with fake bars, and Joe's intricate backup plan unfolds. He outsmarts everyone, settles scores, and reclaims control through pure cunning and preparation.
Transformation
Joe and Fran sail away on their boat with the real gold, finally achieving the retirement he wanted. But he earned it not by going straight, but by being the best at what he is—transformed from wanting to escape his nature to accepting and mastering it.