Stone
Parole officer Jack Mabry (Robert De Niro) has only a few weeks left before retirement and wishes to finish out the cases he's been assigned. One such case is that of Gerald "Stone" Creeson (Edward Norton), a convicted arsonist who is up for parole. Jack is initially reluctant to indulge Stone in the coarse banter he wishes to pursue and feels little sympathy for the prisoner's pleas for an early release. Seeing little hope in convincing Jack by himself, Stone arranges for his wife, Lucetta (Milla Jovovich), to seduce the officer, but motives and intentions steadily blur amidst the passions and buried secrets of the corrupted players in this deadly game of deception.
The film commercial failure against its respectable budget of $22.0M, earning $9.5M globally (-57% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the action genre.
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%)
Stone (2010) reveals strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of John Curran's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Flashback: Young Jack Mabry holds his infant daughter hostage to keep his wife from leaving, establishing his capacity for control through fear and his emotionally dead marriage.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Stone (Gerald Creeson) is assigned to Jack for parole review. Stone is desperate, manipulative, and immediately begins psychological warfare, disrupting Jack's orderly countdown to retirement.. 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 Jack crosses the line: he begins an affair with Lucetta, fully entering Stone's manipulative game and compromising his professional ethics and personal morality., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Jack becomes aware that he's being manipulated but can't extricate himself. Stone's spiritual transformation appears more genuine, creating unsettling questions: Who is really imprisoned? Who is really free? The power dynamic shifts., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jack reaches his lowest point: fully compromised ethically, spiritually bankrupt, trapped in the affair, facing the possibility that Stone's transformation is real while his own life is a prison of his own making., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jack makes his decision on Stone's parole, synthesizing everything he's learned. He must decide: Is Stone's transformation real? Does it matter? What does redemption actually mean?., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Stone'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 Stone against these established plot points, we can identify how John Curran utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Stone within the action genre.
John Curran's Structural Approach
Among the 4 John Curran films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Stone takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Curran filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more John Curran analyses, see Chappaquiddick, Tracks and The Painted Veil.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Flashback: Young Jack Mabry holds his infant daughter hostage to keep his wife from leaving, establishing his capacity for control through fear and his emotionally dead marriage.
Theme
Stone tells Jack during their first interview: "You got to change, you got to die before you die." The film's central question about spiritual transformation vs. manipulative performance is stated.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Jack's world: a parole officer weeks from retirement, living in a loveless marriage with Madylyn, going through religious motions without belief, emotionally shut down and rigidly controlling his environment.
Disruption
Stone (Gerald Creeson) is assigned to Jack for parole review. Stone is desperate, manipulative, and immediately begins psychological warfare, disrupting Jack's orderly countdown to retirement.
Resistance
Stone's wife Lucetta enters the picture, beginning to seduce Jack. Jack resists but is drawn in. Stone manipulates from prison while Jack debates whether to maintain his integrity or succumb to temptation and corruption.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jack crosses the line: he begins an affair with Lucetta, fully entering Stone's manipulative game and compromising his professional ethics and personal morality.
Mirror World
Stone begins genuinely exploring spiritual radio broadcasts and faith practices. His transformation may be real or performative—this subplot carries the theme of authentic vs. false conversion.
Premise
The dangerous game plays out: Jack continues the affair with Lucetta while evaluating Stone's parole. Stone claims spiritual awakening. Jack's faith is challenged. The promise of the premise—a psychological thriller about manipulation and redemption—unfolds.
Midpoint
Jack becomes aware that he's being manipulated but can't extricate himself. Stone's spiritual transformation appears more genuine, creating unsettling questions: Who is really imprisoned? Who is really free? The power dynamic shifts.
Opposition
Jack's world closes in: his marriage deteriorates further, his affair intensifies, his professional judgment is compromised. Stone's manipulation tightens. Jack's carefully controlled life unravels as he confronts his own spiritual emptiness.
Collapse
Jack reaches his lowest point: fully compromised ethically, spiritually bankrupt, trapped in the affair, facing the possibility that Stone's transformation is real while his own life is a prison of his own making.
Crisis
Jack sits in darkness with his crisis: confronting decades of emotional death, his loveless marriage, his capacity for corruption, and the question of whether genuine spiritual transformation is even possible.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jack makes his decision on Stone's parole, synthesizing everything he's learned. He must decide: Is Stone's transformation real? Does it matter? What does redemption actually mean?
Synthesis
Jack delivers his final recommendation and retires. Stone is released. The aftermath plays out ambiguously—both men changed, neither clearly redeemed or damned, leaving the question of authentic transformation unresolved.
Transformation
Final image: Jack sits alone with religious radio playing, Stone presumably free. Both men are in ambiguous states—has either truly changed? The film refuses easy answers about redemption and spiritual transformation.