A Simple Plan

Name: A Simple Plan
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: December 11, 1998
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 82
Cast: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton

1998

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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A Simple Plan

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 11, 1998 | R

Starring: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton

Summary: Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers (Paxton, Thornton) erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over four million dollars in cash is discovered at the remote site of a downed small airplane. (Paramount Pictures)

Director: Sam Raimi

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 121 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Stephen Hunter

But [Raimi]'s instructed his fabulous Style to take a hike, and, working from Scott Smith's brilliantly reconfigured script from Smith's own (much darker) novel, delivers a piece that is severe and disciplined in its evocation of the cold terrors of fate. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

One of the year's best films for a lot of reasons, including its ability to involve the audience almost breathlessly in a story of mounting tragedy. Read full review

J. Hoberman

As straightforward in narrative as it is gut-wrenching in effect, A Simple Plan is a sort of slow-motion skid down an icy blacktop— it's a movie you watch with a mounting sense of dread...[It's] an extremely credible thriller and an affecting brother-story. Read full review

Jack Matthews

The role of Jacob is greatly expanded from the book, and the unsatisfying way that Smith and Raimi resolve the brothers' relationship in the movie is the only major change--major compromise--made in transporting the novel to the screen. Read full review

Joshua Klein

Both simplifies and brings into focus the already simple and effective thriller. Read full review

David Sterritt

Sensitive performances and intelligent storytelling keep the sometimes-violent tale involving from start to finish, marking a giant step for director Raimi, previously known for action stories and over-the-top fantasies. Read full review

Richard Schickel

There's neither intricacy nor surprise in the narrative, and these dopes are tedious, witless company. Mostly you find yourself thinking, "How long until dinner?" Read full review

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User Reviews

AgentJohnson

Feb 26, 2011

This absolutely fantastic film is one of my all time favorites, with the added benefit of being watchable a seemingly endless number of times. From the opening words of wisdom from the main character,and the subsequent disintegration of the fabric of normal life for everyone involved, itThis absolutely fantastic film is one of my all time favorites, with the added benefit of being watchable a seemingly endless number of times. From the opening words of wisdom from the main character,and the subsequent disintegration of the fabric of normal life for everyone involved, it plays out, in a quiet, understated fashion, a sordid tale that bombards your senses with its seriousness, believability and stunning awfulness.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

PatrickDunne

Aug 23, 2005

This is vertainly not a "feel good" film, but it certainlly is Raimi's best. His goal for Spiderman 2 was drama, but he already achieved it here.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Compi24

Nov 9, 2015

A riveting departure for director Sam Raimi, "A Simple Plan" is a harrowing cautionary tale featuring some stunning cinematography and one of Billy Bob Thornton's greatest performances.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Spangle

Jul 4, 2015

Overall, this one's best feature is the acting. Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton are awesome in this drama film brought to us by director Sam Raimi. While the direction and writing are both strong, the acting truly takes center stage in this film. In addition, the drama between theOverall, this one's best feature is the acting. Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton are awesome in this drama film brought to us by director Sam Raimi. While the direction and writing are both strong, the acting truly takes center stage in this film. In addition, the drama between the characters is quite well done and it really takes the whole "if you found milions of dollars in the woods, what would you do" hypothetical question and runs with it, forming a captivating film around that premise. The cinematography is also quite good and really beautiful at times. While A Simple Plan can get a bit predictable and never truly sniffs greatness as a comprehensive unit, it still winds up being a good film that really pulls on your heart strings at times and makes you sad, angry, happy, etc, which is truly what film is meant to do. Come for the plot and director if those are what draw you to a film, but stay for Paxton and Thornton, who steal the show and use it as a showcase for their incredible talent.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DirigiblePulp

Jan 31, 2017

Tense and riveting. The ending is a bit too sudden and not fully formed. It makes sense but doesn't quite make you feel the inevitability and disaster of it all.

This and The Gift are very similar Raimi movies. They are thrillers, not horror movies, within that same wheelhouse, and theyTense and riveting. The ending is a bit too sudden and not fully formed. It makes sense but doesn't quite make you feel the inevitability and disaster of it all.

This and The Gift are very similar Raimi movies. They are thrillers, not horror movies, within that same wheelhouse, and they both lack his personal touch. They both feel a bit like he goes too flat and safe. He doesn't quite figure out how to bring himself into the Hollywood thriller mold.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Andys_Reviews

Dec 17, 2012

All the performances are very good but I thought Billy Bob Thornton was truly excellent in this. He really nailed his performance of this slightly dim-witted man who is, at heart, quite lonely. Also worthy of note were Bill Paxton and Bridget Fonda. Aside from the performances I did findAll the performances are very good but I thought Billy Bob Thornton was truly excellent in this. He really nailed his performance of this slightly dim-witted man who is, at heart, quite lonely. Also worthy of note were Bill Paxton and Bridget Fonda. Aside from the performances I did find this one didn… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

This film does feature quite a few cliches but its also really quite gripping at times and reasonably fast paced. The story isnt original but I think it did well to highlight how quickly people can change when large amounts of money suddenly appear. There's one character who you may thinkThis film does feature quite a few cliches but its also really quite gripping at times and reasonably fast paced. The story isnt original but I think it did well to highlight how quickly people can change when large amounts of money suddenly appear. There's one character who you may think has a strong sense of paranoia, although I could almost understand that considering the circumstances. Some of the details seem pretty unlikely but I found it overall a somewhat unsettling, thought provoking watch, which is by no means perfect. It tackles issues such as trust, power, greed and, as I say, paranoia (or is it? you'll have to watch the film to find out). It is perhaps a cheesy and predictable, although, however, one of the final scenes I found both quite upsetting and moving. Overall its an interesting enough watch to be worth seeing if you come across it, although I'm not sure I'd recommend going out of your way to see it as such.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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9	#9 Best Movie of 1998
61	#61 Most Discussed Movie of 1998
44	#44 Most Shared Movie of 1998