A Simple Plan (1998)

Director: Sam Raimi

Starring: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda

Three blue-collar acquaintances come across millions of dollars in lost cash and make a plan to keep their find from the authorities, but it isn’t long before complications and mistrust weave their way into the plan.

What if a simple plan is not that simple? Money changes everything, and I’ve never seen a film that illustrates this better than ‘A Simple Plan’.

Hank (Bill Paxton) and his pregnant wife Sarah (Bridget Fonda) live an honest, happy life, and they have everything they want. However, everything is about to change when Hank, his brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton) and their friend Lou (Brent Briscoe) go after a fox, and find a plane buried in the snow. Inside, they find bags filled with money: $4.4 million.

Hank wants to do the honest thing by turning it in, but Lou and Jacob has other theories about the money, and Hank agrees to keep the money safe at his home until the snow has melted and the plane is discovered. If no-one asks about the money, they will split it.

Lots of money, it seems, alters one’s logic thinking ability. Soon, their lives spiral out of the control as they become obsessed with the money. As tensions rise, their lives start falling apart. During the course of the movie, so much is revealed about each character, allowing for excellent character development. I thought Billy Bob Thornton in particular was fantastic as Jacob.

There are quite a few twists and turn of events along the way, and the film then ends on a chilling note. ‘A Simple Plan’ is a well written story, and very well executed.

‘A Simple Plan’ received 40 award nominations (including Oscar nominations for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film, and Best Supporting Actor for Billy Bob Thornton), and won 16 including Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Score).

Would I watch it again? Yes.