SIMPLE PLAN, A

"Hard not to think of that corny adage, ‘Show God your plans to make him laugh’ – or however it goes – on seeing A Simple Plan. But the film is not merely about a plan that spirals out of control; like the similarly themed Very Bad Things, it’s about how ‘ordinary’ people behave in unexpected circumstances, what makes humans tick and how naïve we are to think that we have control over our own future. Truckloads of irony here, as the incisive script digs into the psyches of four characters, each responding differently to a large stimulus: loads of cash. Our own sympathies and reactions are allowed to see saw, as the misadventure rolls on. Wound up in the moral issues are questions about dreams and aspirations, loyalty and greed, decency and stupidity – and the ungovernable nature of life which with the smallest incident can catapult us into hell. The beauty – and terror - of this script is that it echoes with the identifiably real way of the world: three guys in a truck on a wintry afternoon on a road out of town, just hanging out. A fox steals a chicken, runs in front of the truck, the driver swerves in reflex and hits a tree. No-one hurt. But this tiny incident carries the seeds of the destruction of the men’s lives – either physically or spiritually. There follows a string of small things that have huge consequences. (Reminder of another adage: ‘small trigger, big explosion’.) A Simple Plan is gripping and involving human drama, told with cinematic brilliance and performed to perfection. Make plans to see it."
Andrew L. Urban

"At last comes a thriller that doesn't insult the intelligence of the audience. A Simple Plan is an extraordinary piece of craftsmanship, a compelling, brilliantly structured and multilayered work that reminds one of the classic film noir gems of the fifties. A strong thriller needs to be about seemingly ordinary characters, so that we are able to truly identify with their plight. This is a film that does what few American films are capable of: combining the intricacies of plot with character development. What remains so masterful about this film, is the way director Sam Raimi, working from a detailed script by novelist Scott Smith, allows events and situations to slowly creep up, so that by the film's unexpected (and totally satisfying) denouement, we have been completely sucked in to the misfortunes that tragically overcome this disparate collection of characters. Wonderfully textured and stunningly shot, the film's performances are sublime, headed by Billy Bob Thornton, whose portrayal of the slow older brother, is one of the most chilling and complex performances of the year, and one destined for Oscar consideration. His is an involving, deeply rich characterisation that is the heart and soul of this movie. Paxton is a great Everyman actor, and here, his sense of ordinariness makes his character's journey all the more tragic, while Fonda's manipulative wife is fascinating to behold. This is Sam Raimi at his best, combining visual intricacy with a deft sense of character and narrative fluidity. A Simple Plan is a stunning work, an involving and engrossing yarn that remains true to itself, right to the end. At last, we have a mainstream American thriller with balls; they don't make them like this too often."
Paul Fischer