Hollywood & Wine
Diane Blaine has the face of a movie star. Unfortunately, fallen star/tabloid queen Jamie Stephens already made it famous. Hollywoods constant rejection due to what Diane refers to as "TJS" ("Too Jamie Stephens") has made her bitter, frustrated....and, yes, whiny. Co-worker/boyfriend Jack Sanders doesn't help matters. His idea of ambition is letting it ride. Now he's in major debt to a trigger-happy mobster who, interestingly enough, has a thing for Jamie Stephens. Jack's only way out? Convince Diane to be Jamie and wipe out the debt having one meal with a made man. It's literally the performance of her life. With Jack's on the line.
Working with a tight budget of $5.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $8.0M in global revenue (+60% 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%)
Hollywood & Wine (2011) exemplifies precise plot construction, characteristic of Matt Berman's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 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 Diane Blaine, struggling Hollywood actress, lives in a declining mansion with her eccentric aunt. She's barely getting by, clinging to faded glory and desperate for a breakthrough role.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Diane receives eviction notice and learns she's about to lose the estate. Bank threatens foreclosure unless she can pay massive back taxes immediately.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Diane actively decides to throw a massive Hollywood party to sell the estate's wine, committing to save the property through entrepreneurship rather than waiting for her next acting break., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: the party is a huge success, wine is selling, Diane thinks she's saved the estate and can have both Hollywood fame and financial security. Stakes raise as expectations increase., 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 (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All falls apart: major business disaster at the party, Diane's Hollywood reputation destroyed, romantic interest leaves feeling betrayed, aunt's health crisis or death metaphor, estate appears lost forever., shows 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 79% of the runtime. Diane has revelation: synthesizes aunt's wisdom about authenticity with her Hollywood savvy. Realizes she can be genuine AND successful. Discovers solution that honors both worlds properly., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Hollywood & Wine's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Hollywood & Wine against these established plot points, we can identify how Matt Berman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Hollywood & Wine within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Diane Blaine, struggling Hollywood actress, lives in a declining mansion with her eccentric aunt. She's barely getting by, clinging to faded glory and desperate for a breakthrough role.
Theme
Aunt warns Diane that 'fame isn't everything' and suggests she needs to find what truly matters beyond Hollywood success and appearances.
Worldbuilding
Established: Diane's failing career, her aunt's vineyard property falling into disrepair, mounting debts, shallow Hollywood social circles, and Diane's desperate attempts to maintain status while broke.
Disruption
Diane receives eviction notice and learns she's about to lose the estate. Bank threatens foreclosure unless she can pay massive back taxes immediately.
Resistance
Diane resists admitting defeat, tries various Hollywood schemes to raise money. Aunt suggests selling wine from their neglected vineyard. Diane debates between doubling down on acting or trying something new.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Diane actively decides to throw a massive Hollywood party to sell the estate's wine, committing to save the property through entrepreneurship rather than waiting for her next acting break.
Mirror World
Diane meets or deepens relationship with a down-to-earth wine expert or romantic interest who represents authenticity versus Hollywood fakery, carrying the film's theme about real value.
Premise
The fun: outrageous party planning, Hollywood characters arriving, wine-fueled chaos, Diane navigating her two worlds (fake Hollywood and authentic wine business), comedic mishaps and celebrity cameos.
Midpoint
False victory: the party is a huge success, wine is selling, Diane thinks she's saved the estate and can have both Hollywood fame and financial security. Stakes raise as expectations increase.
Opposition
Complications pile up: wine quality issues, party guests cause damage, Hollywood 'friends' reveal true shallow nature, business problems emerge, romantic relationship strains, Diane's old habits sabotage new opportunity.
Collapse
All falls apart: major business disaster at the party, Diane's Hollywood reputation destroyed, romantic interest leaves feeling betrayed, aunt's health crisis or death metaphor, estate appears lost forever.
Crisis
Diane alone in darkness, facing her superficiality and what she's lost chasing fame. Processes grief over aunt, estate, and her wasted years in Hollywood. Dark night of soul reflection.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Diane has revelation: synthesizes aunt's wisdom about authenticity with her Hollywood savvy. Realizes she can be genuine AND successful. Discovers solution that honors both worlds properly.
Synthesis
Diane executes authentic plan: makes amends with genuine people, uses her talents honestly, saves estate through real relationships not schemes, confronts shallow Hollywood crowd, chooses truth over fame.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors opening: Diane at the estate, but transformed. Now genuinely happy, running authentic wine business, real relationship, found peace beyond Hollywood validation. True success at last.