Watch A Simple Plan

A Simple Plan is a thrilling crime drama film from 1998 starring Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, and Bridget Fonda. Directed by Sam Raimi, the movie is based on a novel of the same name by Scott Smith. The plot revolves around three ordinary people- Hank, played by Paxton, his brother Jacob, played by Thornton, and Jacob's friend Lou, played by Brent Briscoe. The trio comes across a crashed plane in the woods, and to their astonishment, they find a bag containing $4.4 million. They decide to keep the money and plan to split it among themselves after some time has passed.

Initially, everything goes smoothly. The three men hide the money and agree to keep the secret between themselves until a later point in time, so there's no suspicion. But soon, greed and fear take over, and things begin to unravel. As the plot progresses, the characters start to distrust each other and bog themselves down in a web of lies, murder, and betrayal.

Paxton's character, Hank, at first seems like an honest and straightforward man who just wants to provide a good life for his wife Sarah, played by Fonda, and their unborn child. He initially tries to do the right thing by suggesting they turn in the money to the authorities but is convinced otherwise by his brother and their friend.

Billy Bob Thornton delivers an exemplary performance as Jacob, who has an IQ of just 72 and is often underestimated and belittled by his brother. Jacob is a simpleton, but his sincerity and innocence make him endearing to the audience.

Bridget Fonda's Sarah is Hank's wife, and although she initially opposes the idea of holding onto the money, she ultimately goes along with the plan. Her character takes a back seat to the main plot, but her portrayal adds depth to Hank's character.

The movie's cinematography is beautiful, capturing the bleak winter landscapes of Minnesota perfectly. The music by Danny Elfman adds a haunting quality to the film.

A Simple Plan is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling. It explores the theme of how greed and deception can affect even the most average people compellingly. As the characters' moral depravity spirals out of control, viewers are left on the edge of their seats, not knowing what will happen next. The tension never lets up, and every twist feels both surprising and inevitable.

One of the film's main themes is the idea that even the simplest plan can go terribly wrong, and the characters' fate is a testament to that. By the end of the movie, viewers are left with a sobering reminder of the old adage, "Money doesn't buy happiness."

Overall, A Simple Plan is an enthralling and thought-provoking movie that is well worth watching. While it may not have received the same level of recognition as some of its peers, it is a hidden gem that deserves to be discovered.

A Simple Plan is a 1999 crime movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 1 minute. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 82.