Internal Affairs
Keen young Raymond Avila joins the Internal Affairs Department of the Los Angeles police. He and partner Amy Wallace are soon looking closely at the activities of cop Dennis Peck whose financial holdings start to suggest something shady. Indeed Peck is involved in any number of dubious or downright criminal activities. He is also devious, a womaniser, and a clever manipulator, and he starts to turn his attention on Avila.
Working with a moderate budget of $15.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $27.7M in global revenue (+85% 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%)
Internal Affairs (1990) reveals deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Mike Figgis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 55 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 Raymond Avilla arrives at Internal Affairs, a principled investigator with a stable marriage and clear sense of right and wrong. He's the new guy, eager but methodical.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Avilla and Wallace are assigned to investigate Dennis Peck after a shooting incident. They discover evidence suggesting Peck is involved in far more than a simple shooting—multiple wives, unexplained wealth, and suspicious connections.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Avilla makes the active choice to go all-in on bringing down Peck, despite warnings from superiors and the political danger. He commits to a full investigation, knowing it will put him in Peck's crosshairs., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False defeat: Peck seduces Kathleen, Avilla's wife, and makes sure Avilla knows about it. The stakes are raised from professional to deeply personal. Avilla's marriage crumbles and his obsession with Peck intensifies dangerously., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Amy Wallace is murdered by Peck's associates. Avilla's partner and moral compass is dead. The whiff of death is literal. Avilla is at his lowest point, having lost his marriage, his partner, and nearly his soul to obsession., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Avilla gains crucial evidence and testimony that can finally bring Peck down legally. He chooses to finish this the right way—through the system, not by becoming Peck. He synthesizes his investigative skills with renewed moral purpose., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Internal Affairs's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Internal Affairs against these established plot points, we can identify how Mike Figgis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Internal Affairs within the crime genre.
Mike Figgis's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Mike Figgis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Internal Affairs represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Mike Figgis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Mike Figgis analyses, see Cold Creek Manor, Leaving Las Vegas.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Raymond Avilla arrives at Internal Affairs, a principled investigator with a stable marriage and clear sense of right and wrong. He's the new guy, eager but methodical.
Theme
Avilla's partner Amy Wallace warns him about getting too close to investigations: "You can't let them get to you." The theme of obsession and losing oneself in the fight against corruption is introduced.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Internal Affairs unit, the politics of investigating fellow cops, Avilla's happy home life with pregnant wife Kathleen, and the culture of corruption within LAPD. Dennis Peck is introduced as a charming, dangerous presence.
Disruption
Avilla and Wallace are assigned to investigate Dennis Peck after a shooting incident. They discover evidence suggesting Peck is involved in far more than a simple shooting—multiple wives, unexplained wealth, and suspicious connections.
Resistance
Avilla debates how deep to dig into Peck's activities. He gathers evidence, interviews Peck's associates and ex-wives, and begins to see the scope of Peck's corruption. Peck becomes aware of the investigation and starts to manipulate the situation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Avilla makes the active choice to go all-in on bringing down Peck, despite warnings from superiors and the political danger. He commits to a full investigation, knowing it will put him in Peck's crosshairs.
Mirror World
Peck meets face-to-face with Avilla in a charged encounter. Peck becomes the dark mirror—charming, manipulative, showing Avilla what happens when someone loses all moral restraint. Peck also begins targeting Kathleen, Avilla's wife, as a pressure point.
Premise
The cat-and-mouse game between Avilla and Peck intensifies. Avilla uncovers more corruption—drug dealing, murder, money laundering. Peck psychologically manipulates Avilla, targeting his marriage and planting seeds of paranoia. The investigation becomes increasingly personal.
Midpoint
False defeat: Peck seduces Kathleen, Avilla's wife, and makes sure Avilla knows about it. The stakes are raised from professional to deeply personal. Avilla's marriage crumbles and his obsession with Peck intensifies dangerously.
Opposition
Avilla spirals as Peck tightens his psychological grip. Evidence mounts but Peck seems untouchable with department protection. Avilla's obsession consumes him—he's becoming as ruthless as Peck. His marriage ends. Partner Amy grows concerned about his state of mind.
Collapse
Amy Wallace is murdered by Peck's associates. Avilla's partner and moral compass is dead. The whiff of death is literal. Avilla is at his lowest point, having lost his marriage, his partner, and nearly his soul to obsession.
Crisis
Avilla processes Amy's death and confronts what he's become. Dark night of reflection—has his obsession with destroying Peck made him lose everything that mattered? He must decide whether to continue or walk away.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Avilla gains crucial evidence and testimony that can finally bring Peck down legally. He chooses to finish this the right way—through the system, not by becoming Peck. He synthesizes his investigative skills with renewed moral purpose.
Synthesis
Final confrontation with Peck. Avilla executes the plan to arrest Peck with solid evidence. Tense showdown where Peck tries final psychological manipulation. Avilla refuses to be baited into murder, maintaining his integrity even as he brings Peck to justice.
Transformation
Peck is arrested and led away. Avilla stands victorious but scarred—he won by not becoming Peck, but paid a heavy price. He's transformed from idealistic investigator to someone who understands the true cost of fighting corruption.