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A Simple Plan
1998 121 min United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany R 18+
★8.0
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Sam Raimi
📖 Based on the novel
«A Simple Plan»
byScott Smith
Trailers
Description
Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over $4 million in cash is discovered at the remote site of a downed small airplane. Their simple plan to retain the money while avoiding detection opens a Pandora's box when the fear of getting caught triggers panicked behavior and leads to virulent consequences.
Budget:
$17M
US Gross:
$16.32M
Worldwide:
$16.32M
Starring
Bill Paxton
Actor
Billy Bob Thornton
Actor
Bridget Fonda
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1999
— Best Supporting Actor
Saturn Awards 1999
— Best Action, Adventure or Thriller
Saturn Awards 1999
— Best Supporting Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1999
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1999
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1999
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Key opinion
A Simple Plan is widely regarded as a gripping and bleak neo-noir thriller that masterfully explores the corrosive effects of greed on ordinary people. While some viewers feel the middle act drags, the film is anchored by a compelling, high-stakes moral descent and a standout performance by Billy Bob Thornton.
| Acting | Billy Bob Thornton delivers a critically acclaimed, emotionally resonant, and nuanced performance that anchors the film's psychological tension. | |
| Direction | Sam Raimi effectively utilizes the harsh, snow-bound landscape to create an immersive and oppressive atmosphere that reinforces the story's themes of decay and fatalism. | |
| Screenplay | The script is praised for its thematic depth and tight exploration of moral collapse, though some critics argue the plot occasionally feels diffuse or relies on excessive dialogue. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the film's tempo are divided; some appreciate the methodical, tension-building pace, while others find the mid-film section sluggish and feel the runtime could be tighter. | |
| Ending | The film's conclusion is a point of contention, with some reviewers finding it powerful and fittingly grim, while others dismiss the final events as far-fetched. |