Sam Raimis 1998 thriller-drama A Simple Plan is easily one of my top 10 favorite films. I love everything about this movie--the story, the acting, the atmosphere, the music, the twists and turns the story takes, and the questions of morals and ethics. Its about three working-class men (two of which are brothers played by Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton) who come across a lost crashed airplane with a duffel bag inside. Whats inside the bag? 4.4 million dollars! They agree to keep it, and Paxton brings his wife (played by Bridget Fonda) in on the plan. But when she brings up a loose end they need to tie up, that begins a series of problems that they must wrap up. Everything you think can go wrong goes wrong, and there are consequences, mistrusts, further complications, and the whole situation just becomes a disaster that Paxton has to face. He even winds up killing a few people to protect the secret. At what point do they draw the line? Thats the question Thorntons mentally-slow Jacob is wondering in his head. One of the best things about this movie is that Paxtons character Hank, always the rational one, is letting his greed overtake him to the point where he practically becomes the voice of the Devil for Jacob who just wants to do the right thing and is too afraid to step up. Hes saying they have to do this if theyre going to keep the money. And Hank is constantly led upon by Fondas Sarah, who always points out the little things that are wrong with the plan and convinces Hank to go on from there to fix them. She seems mild-mannered in the beginning, but once she is let in on the plan, thats when she feels the greed too. Its fascinating how this film has good people doing bad things in the name of greed and even more fascinating wondering when theyre going to ultimately just give up and draw the line. Its thrilling to watch this story develop and wonder what little detail is overlooked. Remember what I was saying about Blood Simple and how riveting it was to see characters get away with murder and they overlook little things? Well, this is kind of a whole film based around that concept, because theres a lot that goes wrong. For something that starts out as simple as obtaining stolen money, this transforms into a wave of complications as they fix this and then that and so on until the end. My favorite character is Jacob, played brilliantly by Billy Bob Thornton. Hes the odd man out among the three who find the money, but hes brought in on the plan because hes Hanks brother and because hes insecure and slow-minded, Hank doesnt really take his suggestions seriously. But he becomes the only sensible one later on, as Hank descends into further psychotic behavior, and when it becomes clear that he will always be roped into everything Hank sees as a solution, Jacob can hardly take it anymore and we feel sorry for him. And Ill admit...his exit from the film is what gets me a little teary-eyed. Director Sam Raimi does a great job of easing us into the violent situations and thus raising the tension level even more. Also credit the writer Scott Smith, who based this film on his own novel, for handling this bizarre situation and its further implications exactly right, in the screenplay department. And I like that Raimi used a snowy backdrop for a chilling atmosphere in this quiet, small Midwestern town. Parts of this film remind me of the Coen Brothers Fargo. (By the way, Raimi asked the Coens, his friends and former roommates, for advice on filming in this weather. Thats pretty cool.) I just adore this film. It has the same nervous (but positive) effect on me every time I see it. Its an involving story from beginning to end, the acting is great, and it even makes me appreciate what I have rather than what I dont have. Any film that can bring that reaction is a worthy film to me.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 21:31:18 +0000
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