Still Alice
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested.
Despite its limited budget of $5.0M, Still Alice became a runaway success, earning $44.8M worldwide—a remarkable 796% return. The film's fresh perspective connected with viewers, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Still Alice (2014) reveals deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Wash Westmoreland's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 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 Alice Howland, a renowned linguistics professor at Columbia, delivers a confident lecture to engaged students. She is at the peak of her career, intellectually sharp, surrounded by her successful family celebrating her 50th birthday.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when While jogging on campus, Alice suddenly stops, disoriented and unable to remember where she is. This first significant memory lapse terrifies her. She also forgets a word during a lecture, something that has never happened before.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The neurologist delivers the diagnosis: early-onset Alzheimer's disease, likely genetic. Alice makes the choice to tell her family and face this new reality rather than hide it. This irreversible moment changes everything., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Alice delivers a powerful speech at an Alzheimer's conference about living with the disease. It's a false victory—she speaks eloquently about her condition, but immediately afterward, she can't find the bathroom and wets herself. The disease is winning despite her efforts., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 73 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Alice watches the video she made for herself when newly diagnosed, instructing her future self to take pills to end her life. She tries to follow through but can't remember the steps. The Alice who made that plan is already dead; she's trapped in a deteriorating mind., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Lydia chooses to stay with her mother instead of pursuing her acting opportunities. She moves in to care for Alice. This represents a new understanding: love and presence matter more than achievement or memory., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Still Alice'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 Still Alice against these established plot points, we can identify how Wash Westmoreland utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Still Alice within the drama genre.
Wash Westmoreland's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Wash Westmoreland films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.6, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Still Alice exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Wash Westmoreland filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Wash Westmoreland analyses, see Colette.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Alice Howland, a renowned linguistics professor at Columbia, delivers a confident lecture to engaged students. She is at the peak of her career, intellectually sharp, surrounded by her successful family celebrating her 50th birthday.
Theme
During the birthday celebration, Alice's daughter Lydia says, "You always had an opinion about my life," hinting at the theme of identity, communication, and the loss of self. The question: who are we when we lose our ability to think and remember?
Worldbuilding
We see Alice's complete world: her marriage to John, a successful scientist; her accomplished children Tom and Anna; her strained relationship with aspiring actress Lydia; her rigorous academic life; her jogging routine. Everything is ordered, intellectual, controlled.
Disruption
While jogging on campus, Alice suddenly stops, disoriented and unable to remember where she is. This first significant memory lapse terrifies her. She also forgets a word during a lecture, something that has never happened before.
Resistance
Alice undergoes neurological testing, trying to rationalize her symptoms. She debates whether to tell her family. She resists the possibility of what the diagnosis might mean. John suggests it's menopause or stress. The tests continue; she struggles with memory tasks.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The neurologist delivers the diagnosis: early-onset Alzheimer's disease, likely genetic. Alice makes the choice to tell her family and face this new reality rather than hide it. This irreversible moment changes everything.
Mirror World
Alice's relationship with her daughter Lydia becomes central. Lydia, the one child who chose passion over achievement, represents an alternative way of being. Their reconciliation and deepening bond will carry the film's emotional core about what truly matters.
Premise
Alice attempts to continue her life while managing the disease. She gives lectures using notes, creates systems to remember things, tells her children about the genetic risk. She explores what it means to lose herself gradually while still being herself.
Midpoint
Alice delivers a powerful speech at an Alzheimer's conference about living with the disease. It's a false victory—she speaks eloquently about her condition, but immediately afterward, she can't find the bathroom and wets herself. The disease is winning despite her efforts.
Opposition
Alice's condition deteriorates rapidly. She can no longer work. She gets lost in her own home. She forgets conversations minutes after having them. John buries himself in work, unable to face what's happening. Alice struggles to hold onto herself as everything slips away.
Collapse
Alice watches the video she made for herself when newly diagnosed, instructing her future self to take pills to end her life. She tries to follow through but can't remember the steps. The Alice who made that plan is already dead; she's trapped in a deteriorating mind.
Crisis
John accepts a position in Minnesota and prepares to move, placing Alice in care. Alice is losing not just her mind but her marriage, her home, her identity. She sits in darkness, the woman who lived through language now barely able to speak.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lydia chooses to stay with her mother instead of pursuing her acting opportunities. She moves in to care for Alice. This represents a new understanding: love and presence matter more than achievement or memory.
Synthesis
Lydia cares for Alice, reading to her, being present with her. Alice can barely speak, but something remains. The finale isn't about defeating the disease but finding meaning in connection beyond language and memory.
Transformation
Lydia reads from "Angels in America" and asks her mother what it's about. Alice struggles to answer, finally managing the word "love." Though she has lost almost everything, she can still feel and express what matters most. She is still Alice.