Miami Blues
After Fred Frenger gets out of prison, he decides to start over in Miami, Florida, where he begins a violent one-man crime wave. He soon meets up with amiable college student/prostitute Susie Waggoner. Opposing Frenger is Sgt Hoke Moseley, a cop who is getting a bit old for the job, especially since the job of cop in 1980's Miami is getting crazier all the time.
The film earned $9.9M at the global box office.
2 wins & 2 nominations
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%)
Miami Blues (1990) demonstrates carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of George Armitage's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Fred Frenger Jr. Arrives at Miami airport, a charming ex-con ready to begin his criminal career in a new city. He's confident, predatory, and completely amoral.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Fred and Susie connect immediately. She believes he's a straight arrow, and he decides to play house with her, seeing an opportunity for a cover life while he continues criminal activities.. 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 illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Fred actively decides to use Hoke's stolen badge and credentials to pose as a detective, escalating from petty crime to impersonating a police officer. He crosses into a new world of authority and power., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Fred proposes to Susie and she accepts, believing they'll have a normal married life. False victory: Fred seems to have everything—love, money from crimes, and the thrill of his double life. But the stakes raise as Hoke gets closer to identifying him., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Fred and Hoke have a violent confrontation. Hoke is brutally beaten and loses his teeth and dentures. Fred's facade of civility completely shatters, and Susie witnesses his true violent nature. The dream of domestic normalcy dies., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Hoke, despite his injuries, commits fully to taking Fred down. He synthesizes his investigative skills with new determination. Susie chooses to help Hoke, providing information about Fred., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Miami Blues'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 Miami Blues against these established plot points, we can identify how George Armitage utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Miami Blues within the comedy genre.
George Armitage's Structural Approach
Among the 3 George Armitage films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Miami Blues represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete George Armitage filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more George Armitage analyses, see The Big Bounce, Grosse Pointe Blank.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Fred Frenger Jr. arrives at Miami airport, a charming ex-con ready to begin his criminal career in a new city. He's confident, predatory, and completely amoral.
Theme
A Hare Krishna follower at the airport speaks about finding peace and a new life. The theme: Can someone truly change their nature, or does violence and corruption inevitably surface?
Worldbuilding
Fred accidentally kills the Hare Krishna by breaking his fingers, steals his wallet and belongings. He checks into a hotel and meets Susie Waggoner, a prostitute. Fred presents himself as a normal guy looking for companionship. Detective Hoke Moseley is introduced as a weary, methodical cop working the Krishna's death.
Disruption
Fred and Susie connect immediately. She believes he's a straight arrow, and he decides to play house with her, seeing an opportunity for a cover life while he continues criminal activities.
Resistance
Fred moves in with Susie and begins a double life: loving boyfriend by day, violent criminal by night. Hoke investigates the Krishna case and other crimes. Fred steals Hoke's badge and gun during a casual encounter, setting up their cat-and-mouse dynamic.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Fred actively decides to use Hoke's stolen badge and credentials to pose as a detective, escalating from petty crime to impersonating a police officer. He crosses into a new world of authority and power.
Mirror World
Susie represents the possibility of normalcy and genuine connection. She wants to quit prostitution and build a real life with Fred. Their relationship deepens as she believes in his goodness, creating dramatic irony.
Premise
Fred enjoys playing cop, using the badge to shake down criminals and commit robberies with authority. The premise: watching a sociopath pretend to be both a good boyfriend and a good cop while being neither. Hoke doggedly pursues leads, humiliated by the theft of his badge.
Midpoint
Fred proposes to Susie and she accepts, believing they'll have a normal married life. False victory: Fred seems to have everything—love, money from crimes, and the thrill of his double life. But the stakes raise as Hoke gets closer to identifying him.
Opposition
Hoke closes in on Fred's identity. Fred's violence escalates—he commits more brutal crimes and his mask slips around Susie. She begins to see signs that something is wrong. The criminal world and police world both tighten around Fred.
Collapse
Fred and Hoke have a violent confrontation. Hoke is brutally beaten and loses his teeth and dentures. Fred's facade of civility completely shatters, and Susie witnesses his true violent nature. The dream of domestic normalcy dies.
Crisis
Susie is horrified and heartbroken, realizing Fred can never be the man she hoped. Fred, wounded from the fight, faces the impossibility of maintaining his double life. Both Hoke and Fred must regroup.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Hoke, despite his injuries, commits fully to taking Fred down. He synthesizes his investigative skills with new determination. Susie chooses to help Hoke, providing information about Fred.
Synthesis
Final confrontation between Hoke and Fred. The hunter and hunted face off. Fred's violence and sociopathy meet Hoke's dogged determination and moral code. The finale plays out with Fred unable to escape the consequences of his nature.
Transformation
Fred is shot and killed. Susie is left disillusioned but alive, having learned the hard truth about human nature. Hoke returns to his weary existence, another case closed. The transformation is dark: innocence lost, violence answered with violence.