A Simple Plan |  | Director: Sam Raimi
Actors: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda, Brent Briscoe, Jack Walsh
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $3.99
as of 2/9/2010 22:49 EST details
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Seller: newtownvideos
Rating:  171 reviews
Sales Rank: 8378
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 121 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: D333767D
ISBN: 6305417830
UPC: 097363337676
EAN: 9780792155478
ASIN: 6305417830
Theatrical Release Date: December 11, 1998
Release Date: June 22, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
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
Product Description
The American dream in a gym bag. That's how three men size up what they've found in the snowy Minnesota woods.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 12-MAR-2002
Media Type: DVD
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 171
 Good cast; unbelievable story November 26, 2009
R. Swanson (New Mexico)
I got this movie because of the cast. The first ten minutes were promising, setting up an interesting moral dilemma involving four characters of different personalities. Everyone has to ask himself what he'd do if he'd find a gym bag of four million dollars in hundreds. Most people, I think (hope) would follow the immediate impulse of Hank, the square-jawed, clean cut guy with a good job, a college degree, a nice house and pretty pregant wife. He said obviously that that they had to turn it in, because it would be a crime not to and if they kept it that they'd be caught and sent to jail. Good thinking, Hank.
Watching him cave in, after a discussion of about five minutes wasn't very convincing but I kept with him as he went home and told his wife, Sarah, about the find. By this time, though, he doesn't seem to have much moral compunction about keeping the money, but displays it on the dining room table with a huge grin on his face. Hmmm
I kept watching until the incident when Hank kills the old farmer. His dim-wit brother Jacob, has hit the man and they believe he's dead. In the process of moving the body, the farmer comes to life. Rather than being happy that the fellow isn't dead, Hank finishes him off. This was where I decided to shut the film off. There is nothing in the film that prepares you for the sudden, drastic change in Hank's behavior. It was too horrible and although the acting was first rate and the style of the direction was engaging, I chose to opt out. I could tell that things were destined to go from very bad to even worse and I didn't care to stick along for the depressing ride.
I don't know if the book was more successful in making this believable. For me, and for a number of other reviewers, the dramatic change of Hank's behavior is not believable. Does one turn from a solid citizen, trusted employee and loving husband to murderer overnight with no previous sign of a crack in his moral fiber? This may work as a morality tale, but not as a real human drama.
 If You Liked Fargo, See This One October 20, 2009
Zarathustra (Sacramento, CA USA)
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 July 8, 2009
fra7299 (California, United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 June 21, 2009
Sadie (Seattle, WA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 June 17, 2009
One-Line Film Reviews (Easton, MD)
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
Showing reviews 1-5 of 171
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