Rating: 
Summary: A Simple (yet brilliant) Movie.
Review: Now, this is a screenplay. The plot is very simple: Three men (Paxton, Thornton and Brent Briscoe) find a crashed plane in the middle of the woods. When they investigate they find ... million in what they assume is drug money. They decide to wait a while and then split the money. Then the fun starts.What could be a boring story of in-fighting and double-crosses in lesser hands becomes a taught thriller that twists and turns unexpectedly. The great part about the movie is that all the twists and turns are totally believable. Not once did I think "Oh, come on!" or "Yeah, right." More often, I was thinking "Uh oh" and "Now what?". That's the mark of a great screenplay. I'd rank this one in the top ten of the nineties easily.
Scott B. Smith should be proud. All the actors are excellent, especially Thornton in a not-as-dumb-as-he-looks roll. Sam Raimi's direction which seemed out of place in The Quick and the Dead is right at home here (and toned down quite a bit). Plus, any chance you get to see Gary Cole, you should take it. He's very underrated. The DVD contains almost no extras, which means that Paramount is either really lazy or they'll release a special edition in a few years. I wouldn't want to wait to find out, though. Get this one as soon as possible. Highest recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: The money kills people
Review: This work narrates tragedy which breaks friendship and fraternal love as millions dollars gets suddenly one day in a small ordinary countryside village. Ordinary people destroy their humanity because of greed of money. This is the subject of this film, how ordinary people can change as the money. At the last part of the movie, audience can know this money is not able to use, but the characters of this film does not know that. It shows situation more tragically. This film is a unique work for Sam Raimi who directs this film. However, I can feel his style, it is worth to watch and it¡¯s actually pretty funny and shocking. In addition, one of the characters of this film that is Billy Bob Thornton, his performance is quite brilliant and impressive.
Rating:
Summary: Dark thriller enhanced by brilliant acting
Review: This dark, reflective thriller is sure to delight viewers who require more than just eye candy in their movie diets. It is not the most original of films, and it's probably more predictable than its makers thought it would be, but the brilliant acting and directing easily overcome these flaws. In the middle of a Minnesota winter, three small town men stumble on the wreckage of a small aircraft. There are no survivors. While looking around, the guys find a duffle bag which contains over four million dollars. You can sit in your easy chair and think what you'd do with it, but if this actually happened, what would you really do? This is the question the movie poses. The trio, which is composed of two brothers, Hank and Jacob Miller [Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton], and their friend Lou [Brent Briscoe], hash out a solution. Hank will keep the duffel bag until spring arrives, when they assume the wreck will be discovered. If no one mentions the money, they will then divide it. This is the simple plan, which soon begins to unravel. There are several interesting themes here. One is about money. What happens when people who are stuck in a humdrum life suddenly find a means of escape? Another is greed. Do very high stakes bring out this vice in people, even if they think they don't have it? Then there is the burden of having to keep a very big secret. After all, most people have a hard time keeping little ones. We have come to expect fine performances from Billy Bob Thornton. He dazzled in Primary Colors, The Apostle, and, of course, Sling Blade. He was the only character in Armageddon who thought he was supposed to actually act. A Simple Plan is his best movie to date. His Jacob is simpleminded on the surface, yet by the end, we are left thinking that he may really be the brightest one in the bunch. Bill Paxton, who usually is seen as background to special effects in fare like Titanic, shows here an intelligence and a presence no one knew he had. As Hank's devious, plotting wife, Sarah, Bridget Fonda puts another notch in a fine acting career. Director Sam Raimi has a cult following due to his stylish work in horror movies, such as Evil Dead and Army of Darkness. This is his first foray into a straight thriller, and he does an impeccable job. The photography is above average. The bleakness of the winter landscape mirrors the plight the characters find themselves in. In this aspect, the movie is very much like the Coen brothers remarkable Fargo, which is probably still in most video stores. While some people will be put off by the seriousness of the story, which is both thriller and character study, other will find it both rewarding and engrossing. The ending is not happy, but can any story involving greed end otherwise?
Rating: 
Summary: It wasn't as good as I expected
Review: A Simple Plan: Sam Raimi, Director of the Evil Dead and Darkman movies, takes his stab at mainstream fare in this dark tale of choices and the morality that should govern our lives. Taking a step away from the special effects that have dominated some of his previous movies he gives us a relatively quiet character driven movie. But don't forget this is Sam Raimi. You know something dark is bound to happen. Bill Paxton has the lead role as a quiet hardworking family man in this snow-covered town out in the Mid-West. He has a simple life. He works at the local feed store and his young wife, played by Bridget Fonda, works in the local Library and is about to give birth. His only other family in the town is his older brother, played by Billy Bob Thorton. Billy Bob is a little slow but is mostly together. He goes through life with his dog and his best friend, the town drunk. One chilly day, the three guys are in a truck heading home when a fox darts across their path. They swerve to avoid it and hit a tree. Billy Bob's dog jumps out of the back of the truck and heads off into the woods chasing the fox. The three men trudge through the snow searching for the dog. They begin to argue, as Paxton's character doesn't get along with the Billy Bob's friend at all. The argument is cut short when they find a plane down in the woods. They crawl into it to see if anyone is alive and find the pilot long dead and a bag with 4 and a ½ million dollars. Now they have a choice to make. They can turn the money in or they can keep it and hope nobody comes looking. They concoct a plan to keep the money and split it in the Spring. They vow to keep silent about the money...even to their spouses. That vow lasts about as long as it takes to get home. The allure of the money begins to tear at all of them in different ways the longer they have it. The more they try to keep others from finding about the money the more problems occur. The actors all do a good job in this one. Bill Paxton is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. He goes through all stages from being a truly happy man to one who is haunted by the mistakes of greed. Bridget Fonda is surprising as the ruthless wife. Billy Bob Thorton does his usual good job but this character is only a slight jump up from his Slingblade persona. All this being said...the movie is slow. It takes way too much time going from scene to scene and I began to lose interest after awhile. Also the darkness of it got to be a tad depressing and somewhat predictable. I was starting to guess what tragedy was going to happen before it did. The movie is definitely worthy of a rental but I wouldn't run out and grab it ahead of others.
Rating:
Summary: the beauty of this movie is in its simplicity
Review: I throughly enjoyed this picture after finally seeing it last year. It's one of those movies that sticks with you for a long time after watching and makes you think. The movie sends a very powerful message and in some ways, is satirical. The message it sends is that striving for stability and happiness in life has very little or nothing to do with money. The movie shows what extrodinary lengths people are willing to go to just for a large amount of money. The movie "Fargo" which came out in 1996, has more or less the same message. Perhaps I would have given "Fargo" 5 stars had I seen it first, but I still think the narration in the beginning and ending make "A Simple Plan" the superior picture. The opening narration is tied in brilliantly with the ending narration. That is one of the trade marks of the classic "American Beauty". To a large extent "Fargo" and "A Simple Plan" are spoilers for one another. After seeing either one, you can pretty much predict what is going to happen in the other one, but I still think they are both worth watching for the fine acting and story.
Rating:
Summary: A very quiet movie, but powerful nonetheless
Review: This is the story of three men: Hank (Bill Paxton), Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton), and Lou (Brent Briscoe). Hank is Jacob's younger brother; Lou is just a friend. Hank is married and his wife is expecting; Lou is married also; Jacob is single. The three men go out hunting in the cold Minnesota woods when they happen upon a wrecked plane. Inside the plane is a gym bag, and inside the gym bag is the American Dream: 4.4 million dollars in cold hard cash! The men then devise a simple plan to hide the money; however, as greed overcomes the men, the simple plan becomes an evil plot. As greed claims Hank's wife (Bridget Fonda) as its next victim, the plot continues to lead to corruption after corruption, murder after murder, sin after sin, and--ultimately--extreme tragedy. Although Siskel and Ebert call this film a "razor-sharp thriller", and although the back of the film's cover describes it like one, IMHO it is not really a thriller. I personally think this film is more of a drama, especially since it doesn't really have the gripping suspense or the action the way most thrillers do. But the true beauty of the film lies not in how exciting it can be, but more how haunting and stirring it is in its depiction of good people turned bad. In fact, this film is very quiet and completely devoid of big explosions, massive gun fights, car chases, or even loud background music. The musical score and winter scenery are perfect for the mood; cold, bleak, icy, quiet, bitter, and lonely. It all works really well in conveying its chilling message. Thornton and Paxton deliver fantastic performances as well. My only major complaint is that you can guess the ending from a million miles away. Nevertheless, this film has quite a story to tell, and it is definitely worth a view. Warning: it is definitely not a "feel-good" movie, so watch it at your own risk.
Rating:
Summary: Skip the book, just see the movie.
Review: I don't think I will ever give that advice again, but I found Scott Smith's book too cold blooded and nasty, the first person narration by Hank too revealing of his arrogance and hollow interior. Jim Thompson wrote this kind of story far better, making the characters both sympathetic and unlikable. Sam Raimi's film adaptation is far, far superior. Bill Paxton does an excellent job communicating Hank's arrogance and emptiness, but he also hints at shock when he finds out that others see it in him, and his fatigue at trying to keep the plan simple is equally impressive. Still Billy Bob Thornton steals the movie with his mentally challenged charactization of Jacob, Hank's simple minded brother. Bridget Fonda makes for an understated femme fatale. Danny Elfmann's score is nothing but wonderful and will be a welcome addition to my score library. The only downside is a lack of crime thriller suspense, but the emotional depth of the characters makes it worth seeing at least once. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: DARK MORALITY TALE
Review: This is the story of three men who find a plane load of money and decide to keep the cash. A simple plan you might think but of course it's not and things start to go wrong...First off, let me tell you that if you want to see a cheerful uplifting movie that will send you off into the night with your faith in the morality and humanity of mankind restored, this aint it!! Stop reading now and go watch something uplifting and sentimental like the fantastic Field Of Dreams or any of Frank Capra's movies. Sam Raimi's movie is dark. Did I say dark? I'm sorry I meant very DARK. Bleak even. It's kind of like It's a Wonderful Life but in reverse. However if you like dark movies and love Billy Bob Thornton, you'll love this. If you don't, then don't watch this movie, spend your hard earned cash on something else. This is a great movie, with great performances from all concerned, it just wont be for everyone...
Rating:
Summary: Did you ever feel evil?
Review: This is a diabolical tale about the wages of greed. Although it is played straight without intentional humor, the irony is so delicious at times that you might find yourself laughing. Jacob Mitchell (Billy Bob Thornton) is the one who begins to feel evil, and rightly so as the bodies begin to pile up. His presumably smarter brother Hank (Bill Paxton) feels mostly fear as he struggles to cover up one mishap after another. Their problems begin when they and Jacob's buddy Lou Chambers (Brent Briscoe) stumble onto a downed airplane in the woods covered with snow in which they find one dead person being feasted on by crows and a duffle bag full of hundred dollar bills. Lou, who might represent the common man, says, let's keep it. Hank, who could be rational man, says, whoa, this money belongs to somebody and besides we could get into trouble. We better turn it in. And Jacob, who is the natural man, sides with his buddy Lou. Afterall they're country poor and this is probably drug money that nobody is going to miss. And anyway, what can go wrong? Well, as Ben Franklin observed a long time ago, "Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead." As they wait for spring to come and the plane to be discovered before they risk spending the money, the "simple plan" begins to unravel with horrific consequences. Thornton and Briscoe play country boys to perfection, and Paxton does a great job as a small town golden boy majorly compromised. Bridget Fonda plays Hank's pregnant wife, who turns out to be the brains (as it were) of the group. There are some very nice plot twists as the all too human emotions of the characters begin to crash into one another. Inevitably we have a morality tale in which the wages of sin are fully realized. Sam Raimi's direction captures well the atmophere of north country America without any obvious straining for effect. He gets great mileage out of a few crows (actually some of them are ravens, I think) and a whole lot of snow. Scott B. Smith's script (from his novel) is clever and morally astute. The characterizations are excellent and the story psychologically satisfying. Particularly agreeable was the very sad, ironic end for Hank and his wife, who find that all the self-created hell they went through led them back to where they began, but without their souls.
Rating:
Summary: A fine thriller
Review: Sam Raimi hit the mark with this film! Suspense and plot twists abound. Buy (or rent) this movie. Well worth your time.
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