Narc
An undercover narc dies, the investigation stalls, so the Detroit P.D. brings back Nick Tellis, fired 18-months ago when a stray bullet hits a pregnant woman. Tellis teams with Henry Oak, a friend of the dead narc and an aggressive cop constantly under the scrutiny of internal affairs. They follow leads, informants turn up dead, Nick's wife is unhappy he's back on the street, Henry's protective of the dead cop's wife. Nick reads and re-reads the case file, broods, watches Oak's heavy-handed style, sometimes joining in. The brass want to close out the case, Nick and Henry stay on it, and bits of evidence point them to an auto body shop. What actually happened; will Nick ever know?
Working with a modest budget of $6.5M, the film achieved a steady performer with $12.6M in global revenue (+94% profit margin).
1 win & 9 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%)
Narc (2002) exhibits deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Joe Carnahan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 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 Nick Tellis chases a suspect through Detroit streets in a violent foot pursuit that ends with him accidentally shooting a pregnant woman, establishing his damaged state and desperate methods.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Internal Affairs offers Nick reinstatement if he investigates Calvess's murder, partnering with the dead cop's volatile former partner, Henry Oak, who may himself be corrupt.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Nick officially accepts the assignment and commits to partnering with Oak, crossing into the dark world of the investigation despite his wife's fears and his own reservations., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A confrontation turns deadly, with suspects killed. Nick confronts the widows and families of the investigation's victims, facing the human cost of Oak's vengeance-driven methods and his own complicity., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Nick pieces together the full truth about Calvess's death and Oak's role in it. Armed with this knowledge, he prepares for a final confrontation, choosing truth over convenient closure., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Narc's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Narc against these established plot points, we can identify how Joe Carnahan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Narc within the crime genre.
Joe Carnahan's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Joe Carnahan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Narc takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Joe Carnahan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Joe Carnahan analyses, see Copshop, Smokin' Aces and The Grey.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nick Tellis chases a suspect through Detroit streets in a violent foot pursuit that ends with him accidentally shooting a pregnant woman, establishing his damaged state and desperate methods.
Theme
During the review board hearing, a superior questions whether the ends justify the means in police work, stating the central moral question about corruption in pursuit of justice.
Worldbuilding
Nick is suspended, living in domestic limbo with his wife and child. We learn about the unsolved murder of undercover cop Michael Calvess and the department's need for someone expendable to work the case.
Disruption
Internal Affairs offers Nick reinstatement if he investigates Calvess's murder, partnering with the dead cop's volatile former partner, Henry Oak, who may himself be corrupt.
Resistance
Nick debates taking the assignment, concerned about Oak's reputation and methods. His wife opposes his return to narcotics work. Nick studies the case files and meets the intimidating, grief-driven Oak.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nick officially accepts the assignment and commits to partnering with Oak, crossing into the dark world of the investigation despite his wife's fears and his own reservations.
Mirror World
Oak reveals his obsessive devotion to his fallen partner Calvess, showing Nick the shrine-like investigation board in his basement. This relationship represents the thematic counterpoint of loyalty versus obsession.
Premise
Nick and Oak work the streets together, using brutal interrogation methods to extract information from dealers and witnesses. The investigation delivers the gritty promise of the premise as they descend into Detroit's drug underworld.
Opposition
Evidence becomes contradictory. Nick increasingly suspects Oak is hiding something. Oak's methods grow more violent and erratic. The investigation spirals as Nick realizes the answers may implicate his partner.
Collapse
A confrontation turns deadly, with suspects killed. Nick confronts the widows and families of the investigation's victims, facing the human cost of Oak's vengeance-driven methods and his own complicity.
Crisis
Nick processes the moral devastation, torn between loyalty to his partner and the truth. He reviews evidence alone, wrestling with what he knows and what he can prove about Oak's potential guilt.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nick pieces together the full truth about Calvess's death and Oak's role in it. Armed with this knowledge, he prepares for a final confrontation, choosing truth over convenient closure.
Synthesis
The devastating climax reveals what truly happened to Calvess. Nick confronts Oak in a brutal finale that forces both men to face the consequences of their methods and the corruption born from grief and rage.
Transformation
Nick walks away from the carnage, having learned the terrible cost of justice pursued without moral limits. Unlike the opening chase, he now understands the price of crossing lines.