Sharky's Machine
Tom Sharky is a narcotics cop in Atlanta who's demoted to vice after a botched bust. In the depths of this lowly division, while investigating a high-dollar prostitution ring, Sharky stumbles across a mob murder with government ties, and responds by assembling his downtrodden fellow investigators (Sharky's "machine") to find the leaders and bring them to justice before they kill off all his partners and witnesses, including Sharky himself.
Despite a mid-range budget of $17.5M, Sharky's Machine became a box office success, earning $35.6M worldwide—a 103% return.
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%)
Sharky's Machine (1981) demonstrates meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Burt Reynolds's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 2 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 5.9, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 3 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Sharky is a confident, skilled undercover narcotics detective on top of his game, working dangerous busts with expertise and authority.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 23 minutes when The vice squad discovers a high-priced prostitution ring connected to powerful political figures. Dominoe, an elegant call girl, becomes their surveillance target, pulling Sharky into a dangerous world of corruption and organized crime.. At 19% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 63 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 52% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The team has gathered significant evidence on Victor's operation and political conspiracy, but they realize Victor's organization is far more formidable and dangerous than expected. Stakes escalate as Sharky's emotional investment in Dominoe deepens while the danger intensifies., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Billy Score brutally murders Dominoe's roommate, mistaking her for Dominoe. This "whiff of death" moment represents total failure - Sharky's surveillance-from-afar approach couldn't protect her. Dominoe barely escapes with her life and goes into hiding, terrified., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 99 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Sharky and his team storm Victor's high-rise in an intense shootout. Billy Score falls from the building in an iconic slow-motion death scene. Sharky confronts and kills Victor in the final showdown, dismantling the entire criminal empire and political conspiracy., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Sharky's Machine's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Sharky's Machine against these established plot points, we can identify how Burt Reynolds utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Sharky's Machine within the action genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sharky is a confident, skilled undercover narcotics detective on top of his game, working dangerous busts with expertise and authority.
Theme
After his demotion to the vice squad basement, a colleague remarks about second chances and seeing beyond surfaces - foreshadowing Sharky's journey of redemption and learning to truly see Dominoe as human rather than just a surveillance target.
Worldbuilding
Sharky's bust goes wrong when he shoots a suspect in public, causing department embarrassment. He's demoted to vice squad in the basement, meeting his new team (Arch, Papa, Nosh). The underworld of Atlanta's vice operations is established.
Disruption
The vice squad discovers a high-priced prostitution ring connected to powerful political figures. Dominoe, an elegant call girl, becomes their surveillance target, pulling Sharky into a dangerous world of corruption and organized crime.
Resistance
Sharky debates how deeply to pursue this case given his demotion. His team sets up surveillance equipment. He must decide whether to just go through the motions or fully commit to investigating the conspiracy that's emerging.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The surveillance sequences deliver classic noir detective thriller elements. Sharky pieces together the conspiracy while falling deeper for Dominoe. The investigation reveals Victor, a dangerous Chinese crime lord controlling Dominoe, using her to blackmail gubernatorial candidate Hotchkins.
Midpoint
The team has gathered significant evidence on Victor's operation and political conspiracy, but they realize Victor's organization is far more formidable and dangerous than expected. Stakes escalate as Sharky's emotional investment in Dominoe deepens while the danger intensifies.
Opposition
Victor's organization becomes aware of the investigation. Billy Score, Victor's psychopathic enforcer, closes in on finding Dominoe. The corruption extends higher into Atlanta's political establishment than imagined, making the case increasingly dangerous.
Collapse
Billy Score brutally murders Dominoe's roommate, mistaking her for Dominoe. This "whiff of death" moment represents total failure - Sharky's surveillance-from-afar approach couldn't protect her. Dominoe barely escapes with her life and goes into hiding, terrified.
Crisis
Sharky meets Dominoe in person for the first time under the worst circumstances - she's traumatized and hunted. He faces the hard truth that his voyeuristic love wasn't enough; real love requires real action and sacrifice. The case has become devastatingly personal.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Sharky and his team storm Victor's high-rise in an intense shootout. Billy Score falls from the building in an iconic slow-motion death scene. Sharky confronts and kills Victor in the final showdown, dismantling the entire criminal empire and political conspiracy.