Snake Eyes
All bets are off when shady homicide cop Rick Santoro witnesses a murder during a boxing match. It's up to him and lifelong friend, Naval intelligence agent Kevin Dunne, to uncover the conspiracy behind the killing. At every turn, Santoro makes increasingly shocking discoveries that even he can't turn a blind eye to.
Working with a moderate budget of $73.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $103.9M in global revenue (+42% profit margin).
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%)
Snake Eyes (1998) demonstrates carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Brian De Palma's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 38 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Rick Santoro, a corrupt Atlantic City detective, revels in his world of bribes and backroom deals at a heavyweight boxing match, showing off his connections and enjoying his position of power.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when The Secretary of Defense is assassinated by a sniper during the boxing match, and the heavyweight champion goes down in what appears to be a fixed fight - both events happening simultaneously, throwing the arena into chaos.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 27% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Rick discovers Julia Costello, a mysterious woman in a blonde wig who witnessed something crucial. He makes the choice to pursue the truth rather than accept the convenient official story, committing himself to a real investigation despite the danger., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Rick realizes his best friend Kevin Dunne is part of the conspiracy and actively trying to kill Julia. The stakes escalate from solving a murder to surviving betrayal by the person he trusted most, and the conspiracy reaches higher than he imagined., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Kevin confronts Rick directly, explaining the conspiracy and offering him money to walk away - forcing Rick to face that his lifetime of corruption led to this moment. His old self "dies" as he must choose between dirty money and doing the right thing for the first time., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Rick refuses the bribe and commits to exposing the conspiracy. He synthesizes his knowledge of the corrupt system with his newfound moral clarity, using his detective skills and understanding of the arena for justice rather than personal gain., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Snake Eyes'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 Snake Eyes against these established plot points, we can identify how Brian De Palma utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Snake Eyes within the crime genre.
Brian De Palma's Structural Approach
Among the 17 Brian De Palma films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Snake Eyes represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Brian De Palma filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Brian De Palma analyses, see Blow Out, Mission to Mars and Dressed to Kill.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Rick Santoro, a corrupt Atlantic City detective, revels in his world of bribes and backroom deals at a heavyweight boxing match, showing off his connections and enjoying his position of power.
Theme
Commander Kevin Dunne tells Rick "I'm responsible for the safety of the Secretary of Defense" - establishing the theme of responsibility and what happens when those entrusted with protection fail or betray that duty.
Worldbuilding
The opening 12-minute continuous shot establishes Rick's corrupt world, his friendship with Navy Commander Kevin Dunne, the high-stakes boxing match, political intrigue surrounding a missile defense system, and the crowded arena setting that will become a crime scene.
Disruption
The Secretary of Defense is assassinated by a sniper during the boxing match, and the heavyweight champion goes down in what appears to be a fixed fight - both events happening simultaneously, throwing the arena into chaos.
Resistance
Rick locks down the arena and begins investigating, debating whether this was a conspiracy or lone gunman. He interviews witnesses, reviews footage, and struggles with whether to conduct a real investigation or protect his corrupt lifestyle. His friendship with Kevin complicates matters.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Rick discovers Julia Costello, a mysterious woman in a blonde wig who witnessed something crucial. He makes the choice to pursue the truth rather than accept the convenient official story, committing himself to a real investigation despite the danger.
Mirror World
Julia Costello represents Rick's moral counterpoint - she's honest, principled, and willing to risk everything to expose the truth. Their relationship forces Rick to confront who he really is versus who he could be.
Premise
Rick pieces together the conspiracy using multiple witness accounts and security footage, seeing the same events from different angles. He protects Julia while uncovering that the assassination was an elaborate setup involving the boxer, fake red-haired woman, and military conspiracy.
Midpoint
Rick realizes his best friend Kevin Dunne is part of the conspiracy and actively trying to kill Julia. The stakes escalate from solving a murder to surviving betrayal by the person he trusted most, and the conspiracy reaches higher than he imagined.
Opposition
Kevin and his team hunt Rick and Julia through the casino and hotel. Rick's corrupt connections become liabilities as the conspirators have more resources and power. He must use the same arena he locked down against trained killers while protecting Julia and exposing the truth.
Collapse
Kevin confronts Rick directly, explaining the conspiracy and offering him money to walk away - forcing Rick to face that his lifetime of corruption led to this moment. His old self "dies" as he must choose between dirty money and doing the right thing for the first time.
Crisis
Rick wrestles with his choice as Kevin reveals the scope of the conspiracy. He processes the betrayal, his own culpability in creating a life where this was possible, and what kind of man he wants to be going forward.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Rick refuses the bribe and commits to exposing the conspiracy. He synthesizes his knowledge of the corrupt system with his newfound moral clarity, using his detective skills and understanding of the arena for justice rather than personal gain.
Synthesis
Rick outsmarts Kevin and the conspirators using the arena's architecture and a hurricane striking outside. He saves Julia, exposes the conspiracy through recorded evidence, and ensures the truth comes out despite attempts to silence him. Kevin dies in the hurricane, and justice prevails.
Transformation
Rick stands in the aftermath having lost his corrupt lifestyle and connections but gained his integrity. He's no longer the flashy, compromised detective from the opening but a humbled man who chose truth over personal gain - transformed by one night of moral reckoning.