The Company You Keep
A former Weather Underground activist goes on the run from a journalist who discovers his identity.
Despite its modest budget of $2.0M, The Company You Keep became a commercial juggernaut, earning $20.0M worldwide—a remarkable 901% return. The film's innovative storytelling connected with viewers, illustrating how 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%)
The Company You Keep (2012) demonstrates carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Robert Redford's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jim Grant lives a quiet life as a widowed single father and small-town lawyer in Albany, dropping his daughter off at school and maintaining his respectable, peaceful existence.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Ben Shepard publishes an article revealing that Jim Grant is actually Nick Sloan, a fugitive member of the Weather Underground wanted for a bank robbery that resulted in a murder thirty years ago.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Nick says goodbye to his daughter, leaves his life behind, and becomes a fugitive on the run. He actively chooses to search for Mimi rather than surrender, crossing into a dangerous world of pursuit and exposure., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Nick discovers that Mimi has been living underground with their daughter (conceived during their radical days). The stakes escalate as he realizes Mimi may not want to come forward, and his quest now threatens to expose not just himself but his other child., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 91 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Mimi tells Nick she won't come forward to testify for him, and reveals that she was the one who actually committed the murder during the bank robbery. Nick's hope of exoneration dies, and he faces the reality that he may lose everything for a crime he didn't commit., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 97 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Nick surrenders to the FBI. Ben publishes the full story with newly uncovered evidence. The legal and moral complexities resolve as characters face consequences and truths come to light about what really happened thirty years ago., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Company You Keep's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Company You Keep against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Redford utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Company You Keep within the drama genre.
Robert Redford's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Robert Redford films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Company You Keep takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Robert Redford filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Robert Redford analyses, see Quiz Show, The Legend of Bagger Vance and Ordinary People.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jim Grant lives a quiet life as a widowed single father and small-town lawyer in Albany, dropping his daughter off at school and maintaining his respectable, peaceful existence.
Theme
A character discusses how the past never really dies and people can't escape who they were, foreshadowing the film's exploration of identity, redemption, and the cost of running from the truth.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Jim's comfortable life as a lawyer and father, intercut with news of Sharon Solarz's arrest as a former Weather Underground member. Young reporter Ben Shepard begins investigating the decades-old bank robbery case.
Disruption
Ben Shepard publishes an article revealing that Jim Grant is actually Nick Sloan, a fugitive member of the Weather Underground wanted for a bank robbery that resulted in a murder thirty years ago.
Resistance
Jim/Nick must decide whether to turn himself in or run. He arranges for his daughter's care with his brother, debates his limited options, and realizes he must flee to find the one person who can prove his innocence: Mimi Lurie.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nick says goodbye to his daughter, leaves his life behind, and becomes a fugitive on the run. He actively chooses to search for Mimi rather than surrender, crossing into a dangerous world of pursuit and exposure.
Mirror World
Nick reconnects with Mimi's former associate Jed Lewis, who represents the thematic counterpoint: someone who made peace with the past by living openly with his choices rather than hiding. This relationship explores accountability versus escape.
Premise
Nick pursues leads across the country to find Mimi, staying one step ahead of the FBI and Ben Shepard. The cat-and-mouse thriller premise unfolds as Nick tracks down former comrades while reporters and law enforcement close in.
Midpoint
Nick discovers that Mimi has been living underground with their daughter (conceived during their radical days). The stakes escalate as he realizes Mimi may not want to come forward, and his quest now threatens to expose not just himself but his other child.
Opposition
The FBI intensifies their manhunt. Ben digs deeper into the truth, uncovering inconsistencies in the case. Nick finally locates Mimi, but she refuses to cooperate, committed to her underground life and protecting her own secrets.
Collapse
Mimi tells Nick she won't come forward to testify for him, and reveals that she was the one who actually committed the murder during the bank robbery. Nick's hope of exoneration dies, and he faces the reality that he may lose everything for a crime he didn't commit.
Crisis
Nick grapples with the moral weight of protecting Mimi versus clearing his own name. He must decide whether to expose the truth about who really killed the guard, sacrificing Mimi and their daughter's safety, or accept his fate.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Nick surrenders to the FBI. Ben publishes the full story with newly uncovered evidence. The legal and moral complexities resolve as characters face consequences and truths come to light about what really happened thirty years ago.
Transformation
Nick, now in custody but vindicated by the truth, sees his daughter through prison glass. Unlike the opening where he lived a lie, he now faces her with honesty and integrity, transformed from a man hiding his past into one accepting responsibility for it.