Smokin' Aces
When a Las Vegas performer-turned-snitch named Buddy Israel decides to turn state's evidence and testify against the mob, it seems that a whole lot of people would like to make sure he's no longer breathing.
Despite a respectable budget of $17.0M, Smokin' Aces became a commercial success, earning $57.1M worldwide—a 236% 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%)
Smokin' Aces (2006) exhibits strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Joe Carnahan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 49 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Buddy 'Aces' Israel
Richard Messner
Donald Carruthers
Pasquale Acosta
Georgia Sykes
Sharice Watters
Lazlo Soot
Stanley Locke
Sir Ivy
Main Cast & Characters
Buddy 'Aces' Israel
Played by Jeremy Piven
A Las Vegas magician turned mob informant with a $1 million bounty on his head, spiraling into drug-fueled paranoia.
Richard Messner
Played by Ryan Reynolds
An idealistic FBI agent determined to bring Israel in alive and uncover the truth behind the hit.
Donald Carruthers
Played by Ray Liotta
A seasoned FBI agent and Messner's partner, more cynical and world-weary about the bureau's operations.
Pasquale Acosta
Played by Nestor Carbonell
A sadistic master of disguise and torture expert, one of the deadliest assassins hunting Israel.
Georgia Sykes
Played by Alicia Keys
A lethal bail bondswoman leading her team to capture Israel for the bounty.
Sharice Watters
Played by Taraji P. Henson
A skilled member of Georgia Sykes' bail bonds team, fiercely loyal and capable.
Lazlo Soot
Played by Tommy Flanagan
The eldest of the psychotic Tremor brothers, a neo-Nazi killer with extreme violent tendencies.
Stanley Locke
Played by Andy Garcia
The FBI Deputy Director orchestrating the operation, harboring dark secrets about the case.
Sir Ivy
Played by Common
Buddy Israel's loyal bodyguard and friend, trying to protect him during the chaos.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Buddy "Aces" Israel, a Vegas magician turned mob snitch, is holed up in a penthouse suite spiraling into drug-fueled paranoia, surrounded by his entourage while the underworld closes in on him.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when The FBI learns that Primo Sparazza has placed a million-dollar contract on Buddy Israel, triggering an immediate tactical response to protect their star witness and secure his testimony.. At 13% 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.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The various parties arrive at the Nomad Hotel in Lake Tahoe and begin infiltrating the building, committing to their deadly missions. The FBI establishes their command center, and the siege officially begins., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The FBI loses control of the situation as the Tremor Brothers massacre their way through the hotel. False defeat: what seemed like a manageable protection detail becomes a full-scale war zone with massive casualties., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 82 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Buddy Israel is shot and mortally wounded. As he's rushed into emergency surgery, the revelation emerges that he is actually the illegitimate son of Primo Sparazza, and the entire operation was orchestrated to harvest his heart for transplant., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Messner confronts Maples with the truth, understanding the full scope of the conspiracy. He chooses to expose the corruption despite the personal and professional cost, reclaiming his moral compass., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Smokin' Aces's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Smokin' Aces 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 Smokin' Aces within the action 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. Smokin' Aces represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Joe Carnahan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Joe Carnahan analyses, see Copshop, The A-Team and Boss Level.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Buddy "Aces" Israel, a Vegas magician turned mob snitch, is holed up in a penthouse suite spiraling into drug-fueled paranoia, surrounded by his entourage while the underworld closes in on him.
Theme
FBI Agent Messner's superior warns him about the dangerous convergence: "When you got this many hitters gunning for the same target, it's gonna be a bloodbath" - establishing the theme of chaos, collateral damage, and the cost of revenge.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the sprawling ensemble: multiple assassin crews (Tremor Brothers, Pasquale Acosta, the Swede sisters), bail bondsman Jack Dupree and his team, FBI agents Messner and Carruthers, and the million-dollar bounty on Buddy Israel's head.
Disruption
The FBI learns that Primo Sparazza has placed a million-dollar contract on Buddy Israel, triggering an immediate tactical response to protect their star witness and secure his testimony.
Resistance
The FBI strategizes their protection plan while various assassins and bounty hunters prepare their approaches to the Nomad Hotel. Multiple parties debate tactics, revealing character motivations and the complexity of the converging forces.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The various parties arrive at the Nomad Hotel in Lake Tahoe and begin infiltrating the building, committing to their deadly missions. The FBI establishes their command center, and the siege officially begins.
Mirror World
Agent Messner connects with local security and begins to understand the human cost of this operation, seeing the hotel staff and innocent bystanders who will be caught in the crossfire of institutional vengeance.
Premise
The promised chaos unfolds: assassins clash with each other, the Tremor Brothers unleash carnage, Acosta poses as a delivery man, and the bail bondsmen navigate the violence. Multiple action set pieces showcase the brutal convergence of killers.
Midpoint
The FBI loses control of the situation as the Tremor Brothers massacre their way through the hotel. False defeat: what seemed like a manageable protection detail becomes a full-scale war zone with massive casualties.
Opposition
The body count rises as assassins are killed off one by one. The FBI struggles to maintain any semblance of order. Buddy Israel's condition deteriorates, and the true target of the operation becomes increasingly unclear.
Collapse
Buddy Israel is shot and mortally wounded. As he's rushed into emergency surgery, the revelation emerges that he is actually the illegitimate son of Primo Sparazza, and the entire operation was orchestrated to harvest his heart for transplant.
Crisis
Messner processes the devastating truth: the FBI operation was corrupted from within by Deputy Director Maples, who was working for Sparazza. Everything Messner believed about justice and the system is shattered.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Messner confronts Maples with the truth, understanding the full scope of the conspiracy. He chooses to expose the corruption despite the personal and professional cost, reclaiming his moral compass.
Synthesis
The final confrontation plays out as Maples attempts to complete the organ extraction. Messner and Carruthers fight to stop the conspiracy, leading to Maples' death and the failure of Sparazza's plan.
Transformation
Messner walks away from the carnage at the hotel, disillusioned and traumatized. The closing image shows him alone, having witnessed the complete corruption of the system he served, transformed from an idealistic agent into a cynical survivor.