A Simple Plan

Based on Scott Smith’s (admittedly superior) novel, A Simple Plan follows brothers Hank (Bill Paxton) and Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton) as they and a friend (Brent Briscoe’s Lou) stumble upon a wrecked small plane holding more than $4 million in cash – with the narrative detailing the myriad of complications that ensue after they decide to keep the money. Filmmaker Sam Raimi, working from Smith’s screenplay, delivers a slow-moving yet mostly compelling drama that benefits substantially from its stellar performances, as Paxton and Thornton deliver often captivating work that goes a long way towards cultivating a sporadically enthralling atmosphere. (It’s clear, as well, that Bridget Fonda is equally good as Hank’s crafty wife.) The inherently compelling subject matter is heightened by an ongoing emphasis on overtly captivating interludes and sequences, and there’s little doubt that A Simple Plan eventually does become a far more tense experience than one might’ve initially anticipated (ie Raimi transforms certain moments into almost unbearably suspenseful set pieces). And although it’s ultimately difficult not to miss some of the book’s darker twists, A Simple Plan nevertheless stands as a solid adaptation that mostly captures the increasingly bleak vibe of its source material.

*** out of ****