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A SIMPLE PLAN Send This Review to a Friend
The extent to which outwardly decent people will sink when the lure of money intrudes is the morality theme of this taunt little thriller. The path to dishonesty, murder, cover-up and self-destruction begins when two brothers and a buddy come across a wrecked plane with a dead pilot and more than $4.4 million in cash. Turn it in? Keep it? The dough could solve a lot of their problems.
The story, written by Scott B. Smith based on his novel and directed by Sam Raimi, is Coen brothers "Fargo" territory, but lacks the Coen brothers's wit and humor that elevate their material. Here the going is mostly somber, abetted by strong performances from Bill Paxton as Hank, the at-first honest husband, Bridget Fonda as Sarah, his resentful wife turned accomplice, Billy Bob Thornton as Jacob, Hank's slow-witted brother, and Brent Briscoe as Lou, their lumpen drinking buddy.
The film's tone is as frigid as the snowy country landscape, and an air of doom and violence hovers over the grim tale. "A Simple Plan" is involving and well done in a workmanlike manner, but doesn't rise above that level. A Paramount Pictures release.
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