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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 9517
Released: June 22, 1999 |
| Our Price: $4.24 |
| Used Price: $2.48 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
THREE MEN ARE EMBROILED IN MISTRUST, MURDER AND INTRIGUE WHEN THEY FIND FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN A CRASHED PLANE.
Description of A Simple Plan:
An endless white landscape of rolling hills and snow-blanketed forests. A lonely acoustic score (by Danny Elfman) playing in the background. A vision of rural simplicity portrayed in hushed tones. The stillness is about to shatter. Brothers Hank (Bill Paxton), an accountant at a small-town feed store, and Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton), an unemployed, hygienically challenged dim bulb, accompanied by Jacob's oafish pal Lou (Brent Briscoe), stumble across a downed plane in the brush containing a corpse and a sack containing millions of dollars--surely the aftermath of a drug deal, they conclude. Greed overcomes good sense, and the three agree to hide the money for a year and keep the secret to themselves. A simple plan indeed, and it doesn't take long for it to go all to hell as the lure of wealth tears at kinship and friendship, and the ruthless machinations of impetuous partners leave a body count in its wake. Bridget Fonda costars as Hank's wife, whose initial hesitation gives way to cold-blooded plotting. Sam Raimi, best known for wowing audiences with stylistic gymnastics and manic mayhem, directs this quietly desperate thriller with chilly restraint, finding its cold, tragic heart in the estranged relationship between Hank and Jacob: the college boy blind to the truth of his own family and the town loser whose tortured soul reveals a humanity lost on his brother (a brilliant performance by Thornton). Adapted by Scott B. Smith from his acclaimed novel. --Sean Axmaker
A Simple Plan Reviews:
If You Liked Fargo, See This One 
2009-10-20 - The Coen Brothers released Fargo in 1996 to much critical acclaim. I've watched it many times. In 1998 Sam Raimi took a break from making horror and Batman movies to release A Simple Plan. It largely escaped attention.
Both were filmed in and feature Minnesota in mid-winter. Both films are humorous in a droll sort of way and pack a lot of surprises. If you liked Fargo, I think you'll like A Simple Plan. A bonus is that you can see Jane Fonda's niece, Peter Fonda's daughter and Henry Fonda's granddaughter Bridget, the best actor in the family, albeit in a minor role.
Absorbing Thriller 
2009-07-08 - Maybe things aren't so simple after all.
A Simple Plan's premise is the basis for definite discussion; it is the kind of film that will make you think about how you may have acted in similar circumstances. You may find yourself going along with the film and criticizing the moves by the main conspirators who stumble upon a bag full of money in the snow. On one level, this is a film about trust and deception, as we see the three concoct this plan of keeping the money one year to decide what to do with it, but, on another level, it is about the essence of how events presented to us may change our lives. Although the three immediately discuss and argue about what to do once they find the money, they are still friends, and civil; however, as time progresses, and thoughts creep into their head about motives, greed and suspicions begin to surface.
The intriguing part about this suspense is that much of it is subtle, and it relies much on character development to build towards its final conclusion. We have four characters who are affected by the money which is found, and each have their own motivations and plans. Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton) and his wife (Bridgett Fonda) at first seem overwhelmed about the idea of holding onto such a large sum of money, but as the movie progresses, it gets the best of them, and they begin to try to find means to make it their own. Hank's "slow" brother, Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton), has big dreams of finding some happiness with the money, but as he sees how the money affects both his brother and friend, Lou, he is caught as a middle man between family and friend. It seems every person has good intentions at one point (and there are many moments where the idea of turning the money in presents itself), but there is a sinister consciousness that takes over and pushes back rational though, especially in Hank and his wife, Sarah. Jacob is probably the most innocent of all characters, as he only wants what is best for all, but he does not have the influence over the others to change the course of their actions.
Perhaps the only drawback in an otherwise excellently made film is one or two unbelievable events in the plot, namely the part with the alleged FBI agent's badge not being checked. However, I don't think these discredit the power of the film and its message. A Simple Plan is a study in morality, and seems to work as much as a parable as it does a thriller. You will have to decide whether you think each character is given their "just desserts" and if karma comes back to haunt those who are the greediest in the tale.
Over all, this is a fantastic film, one which you can watch and then come back and watch again a few years later.
fast shipment, very good transaction
2009-06-21 - My vhs of "A Simple Plan" broke. I found this seller on ebay, and the price was right. Everything was as advertised. The movie was new, and played well. The shipping was also very fast. I would certainly buy from this seller again.
A Masterful, Gripping Thriller
2009-06-17 - The Bottom Line:
A film that transcends its thriller roots so thoroughly that by the conclusion you wouldn't be mistaken wondering why it didn't get a Best Picture nomination, A Simple Plan is a success on every level (including the rare feat of being better than the source novel) and a must-see for anyone who likes the thriller genre, enjoys good films, or imagines what they would do if they stumbled upon 4 million dollars...
4/4
Another favorite movie of mine
2009-04-12 - This movie should be a classic. It really shows how the 'best laid plans' can fall apart. I like Billy Bob Thornton in almost every movie I've seen him in.
