The 3-Act Paradigm at Work: Nixon
written by Stephen J. Rivele & Christopher Wilkinson & Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone's Nixon is an especially
fascinating and rewarding script and movie to study because of its
non-chronological narrative. Nonetheless, the three-act dramatic
structure prevails! This movement is determined by the order of events
in the script, not by the order of events through historical time.
It also should be noted that the effect of this film has nothing to do with
whether or not it is "good history", which is another issue entirely. We do
not read Shakespeare to learn English History - and would be greatly misled if we
did!
Structural Analysis
- The Hook:
- Plumbers getting ready to break into Watergate.
- The Complication:
- Nixon receiving "the tapes".
- Hero's Call to Action:
- Nixon decides on cover up.
- Plot point: Act I
- "You won't have Nixon to kick around any more" - Nixon drops out
of politics.
- Plot point: midpoint
- "We can have a new American revolution!" - Nixon runs for President
in 1968.
- Plot point: Act II
Pat: "Dick, sometimes I understand why they hate you" - Nixon falling
under weight of cover up.
- Climax & Resolution
- "When they look at me, they see what they are" - Nixon leaves office.
See my complete analysis in Creative Screenwriting
article, Nixon: A Symphonic Tragedy.
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MODULE 4:
SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting
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