classicsoncall Ah yes, nothing so simple as a simple plan. Except when unforeseen circumstances and unintended consequences get in the way. Each bump in the road is complicated by further ruts along the way until the whole enterprise ends in disaster.This was a well scripted and intense story ultimately pitting a trio of friends against each other over a significant amount of money, four point four million dollars to be exact. Well, two of the friends are brothers, intriguingly portrayed by Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton. Their drinking buddy is Lou (Brent Briscoe), and among the three of them, their combined IQ level just about approximates Hank's (Paxton) all by himself. Thornton's Jacob is perhaps a mental notch above that of Karl Childers in "Sling Blade", while Lou isn't much more than an unemployed red-neck with visions of the good life that his share of the loot can buy. With that as a starting point, events gradually take their twists and turns until spiraling into disaster for all of the principals and a few innocent bystanders as well. Along the way, one's own sense of morality and greed will be tested in the most unconventional of ways, and if you think you would do any better, well I dare anyone to try.The only problem I had with the basic story was the idea that the plane that Hank, Jacob and Lou came across happened to crash land in proximity to their town without anyone ever knowing about it. Given that as a premise, it would have made it much too coincidental for a guy like Baxter (Gary Cole) to show up impersonating a law officer in order to get his hands on the loot that went down with the plane. Earlier in the story, I was also rather amazed that Hank and Jacob would attempt to frame Lou with that role play scenario with the tape recorder. Like Lou wouldn't have had an idea of his own to protect himself?For a while now, my personal list of 'Top Ten Movies You Never Heard Of'' has been missing a final entry, but this one came along today to complete the lineup. It joins such commendable films as "Nobody's Fool", "The Milagro Beanfield War", "Harold and Maude" and "Secondhand Lions". The ones I've mentioned have to do with entirely different subjects, but in the realm of robbery and murder, this one best exemplifies the idea that crime costs more than it pays.

gavin6942 When three blue collar acquaintances in Minnesota come across millions of dollars in lost cash they make a plan to keep their find from the authorities but find complications and mistrust weaving its way into their plan.Sam Raimi saw "A Simple Plan" as an opportunity to direct a character-driven story that differed from his earlier works, which were highly stylized or dependent on intricate camera movements. This plan seems to have worked. All the markings of a Raimi film are gone, and it helped him move beyond being the "Evil Dead" guy.Filming took place in Ashland, Wisconsin, where most of the film's exterior shots, and the road and woods near where the characters find the plane, were shot. As a Wisconsin native, this makes me happy and gives the film a slightly more personal touch. Granted, Ashland is far off the beaten path, but still part of the great state.Billy Bob Thornton is endearing, sort of a mentally disabled Barney Fife. His being recognized by critics is no surprise, as this is easily his best role (perhaps even more than "Sling Blade"). Fewer people have commented on Bridget Fonda, but they should. She is the grounding of the film, and this is a great departure for those who know her from such things as "Jackie Brown".

patrick powell Sam Raimi's A Simple Plan works – just. There's no denying it's a gripping thriller, but it lacked one element which could have made it not just a good film – which it is – but a great film: the characters from the off are too sketchily drawn. We don't get to know them before it all kicks off and so their development – and the story's development – is taken more on trust than it should be. That's it really. Should you see it? Certainly, and you will not be disappointed. It's just that I feel it doesn't quite hang together as well as it might have done had the film been just a little longer with opening scenes establishing the four main characters more.

billcotter Heres a movie with an excellent cast ,film direction,and story line with first rate photography adding to the cold,forbidding atmosphere.Mans greed and selfishness is pitted against the basic need to do the honourable ,moral thing. It is a lesson on how normal,everyday people once embarking on the slippery slope of dishonesty suddenly find themselves losing control of the situation and their actions to remedy that situation merely pushes them closer to the abyss.Two brothers and a friend find a crashed light plane ,the pilot dead,his eyes being picked out of his head by hungry aggressive crows.They retrieve an extremely large carry bag containing hundreds of bundles of $100 dollar bills,amounting to over four million dollars.The big question is do you keep it or do you hand it in to the proper authorities? They make their choice and immediately are sucked down into a vortex of trouble and woe. Recommend this movie!