Just Cause
Bobby Earl (Blair Underwood) is facing the electric chair for the murder of a young girl. Eight years after the crime, he calls in Paul Armstrong (Sir Sean Connery), a professor of law, to help prove his innocence. Armstrong quickly uncovers some overlooked evidence to present to the local police, but they aren't interested, Bobby was their killer.
The film earned $36.9M at the global box office.
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%)
Just Cause (1995) demonstrates meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Arne Glimcher's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Professor Paul Armstrong teaches law at Harvard, living a comfortable academic life focused on constitutional law and capital punishment theory. He is shown in his element: the ivory tower intellectual who debates justice from a safe distance.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Armstrong receives a compelling letter from Bobby Earl, a young black man on death row in Florida, claiming innocence in the rape and murder of a white girl. The grandmother's personal appeal disrupts his academic detachment and forces him to confront his principles in reality.. 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 reveals the protagonist's commitment to Armstrong decides to travel to Florida and take on Bobby Earl's case. He actively chooses to leave his ivory tower and enter the dangerous world of Southern justice, corrupt cops, and death row. This is his point of no return., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Armstrong gets Bobby Earl released from death row. It appears to be a total victory: justice has been served, an innocent man is freed, and Armstrong's principles have triumphed. But this is a false victory—something isn't right about how easily Sullivan confessed to the murder., 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 (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Armstrong realizes he has been completely manipulated and has freed a guilty murderer who now threatens his family. His principles and intellectual arrogance have led to catastrophe. Sullivan is executed, taking his secrets with him. Armstrong's world—and his self-image—dies., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Armstrong joins forces with Tanny Brown, the detective he previously opposed. He synthesizes his intellectual understanding with Brown's street wisdom and moral pragmatism. Armstrong realizes he must fight evil on its own terms to protect his family, combining both worlds., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Just Cause'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 Just Cause against these established plot points, we can identify how Arne Glimcher utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Just Cause within the action genre.
Arne Glimcher's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Arne Glimcher films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Just Cause takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Arne Glimcher filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Arne Glimcher analyses, see The Mambo Kings.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Professor Paul Armstrong teaches law at Harvard, living a comfortable academic life focused on constitutional law and capital punishment theory. He is shown in his element: the ivory tower intellectual who debates justice from a safe distance.
Theme
Bobby Earl's grandmother pleads with Armstrong, saying "There's no justice for a poor black man." The theme is stated: the gap between theoretical justice and practical reality, between what the law promises and what it delivers to the powerless.
Worldbuilding
Armstrong's world is established: prestigious academic career, loving wife Laurie, stable home life. We see his expertise in constitutional law and his opposition to the death penalty as an intellectual exercise. His comfort zone is teaching and writing, not field work.
Disruption
Armstrong receives a compelling letter from Bobby Earl, a young black man on death row in Florida, claiming innocence in the rape and murder of a white girl. The grandmother's personal appeal disrupts his academic detachment and forces him to confront his principles in reality.
Resistance
Armstrong debates whether to get involved. His wife, a former attorney, is skeptical and warns him about the dangers. He researches the case, finding troubling inconsistencies. He resists leaving his safe academic world but feels morally compelled to investigate.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Armstrong decides to travel to Florida and take on Bobby Earl's case. He actively chooses to leave his ivory tower and enter the dangerous world of Southern justice, corrupt cops, and death row. This is his point of no return.
Mirror World
Armstrong meets Detective Tanny Brown, the cop who extracted Bobby Earl's confession. Brown represents everything Armstrong opposes: pragmatic, brutal justice that gets results but violates rights. This relationship will teach Armstrong about the reality of evil and moral compromise.
Premise
Armstrong investigates the case, finding evidence of coerced confession and police brutality. He visits Bobby Earl on death row, examines crime scenes, interviews witnesses, and uncovers another suspect: serial killer Blair Sullivan. Armstrong plays lawyer-detective, using his intellect to expose injustice.
Midpoint
Armstrong gets Bobby Earl released from death row. It appears to be a total victory: justice has been served, an innocent man is freed, and Armstrong's principles have triumphed. But this is a false victory—something isn't right about how easily Sullivan confessed to the murder.
Opposition
The truth begins to unravel. Sullivan reveals he and Bobby Earl were cellmates and orchestrated the entire scheme. Bobby Earl is actually guilty and has manipulated Armstrong. Tanny Brown tried to warn him but Armstrong's idealism made him blind. The real horror emerges: Bobby Earl now knows where Armstrong's wife and daughter live.
Collapse
Armstrong realizes he has been completely manipulated and has freed a guilty murderer who now threatens his family. His principles and intellectual arrogance have led to catastrophe. Sullivan is executed, taking his secrets with him. Armstrong's world—and his self-image—dies.
Crisis
Armstrong confronts his failure and naivety. His wife and daughter are in danger because of his actions. He must process that his black-and-white view of justice was exploited by true evil. The intellectual must become a man of action to save his family.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Armstrong joins forces with Tanny Brown, the detective he previously opposed. He synthesizes his intellectual understanding with Brown's street wisdom and moral pragmatism. Armstrong realizes he must fight evil on its own terms to protect his family, combining both worlds.
Synthesis
Armstrong and Brown track Bobby Earl to the Everglades where he has taken Armstrong's wife and daughter. The final confrontation occurs in the swamp—both literal and moral murk. Armstrong must use violence and deception, abandoning pure principles to save innocent lives. Brown and Armstrong defeat Bobby Earl.
Transformation
Armstrong reunites with his family, but he is changed. No longer the naive academic who believed in pure justice from a distance, he has learned the hard lessons about evil, compromise, and the gap between theory and reality. He has survived by integrating both worlds.