Hank Mitchell - Bill Paxton (Apollo 13, Twister, Weird Science)

Jacob Mitchell - Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade, Armageddon)

Sarah Mitchell - Bridget Fonda (Single White Female, Jackie Brown)

Lou - Brent Briscoe (U-Turn, Sling Blade)

Sheriff - Chelcie Ross (Major League, Last Boy Scout)

We all dream of it. Some could say it's a part of the American Dream. Money. Enough money to where we wouldn't have to worry about anything ever again. What price this dream, some may say. When we dream this, we often picture what we do with it, what (or who) would we buy. Will it make us popular, successful, fulfilled in all of those life expectations that we may have been striving to live up to until now. What most fail to see though, is the emotional effect that this kind of windfall would create. How it would change us in the eyes of our friends and loved ones, and maybe even change us, in our own eyes. These are the dilemmas set forth in Sam Raimi's wonderfully told "A Simple Plan", a movie that starts with the simple question "If a plane full of money crashes in the forest, and no ones around, do they hear it, and is it wrong to keep it"

Based on a novel by Scott B. Smith (he also did the screenplay, so I'm guessing it stays pretty true to things), Simple Plan introduces us to Hank Mitchell (Paxton), his pregnant wife Sarah (Fonda), his slow and simple brother (Thornton), and his brother’s best friend (Briscoe). During a set of illegal circumstances, they find a plane, with a dead pilot, and 4.4 million dollars on board. So the fun begins, keep it, turn it in, what to do? A plan is hatched, and this is the setup, for the slow burn and unwrapping of people, and lives, that occurs over the next two hours

This movie could have easily degraded into a story of greed, and anger, and jealousy, but it is much much deeper than that. We understand why these characters react as they do, and are even forced to look inside ourselves, to imagine how we would react in a similar situation. It delves deep into the lengths that we would go to get what we really want, as opposed to what we thought we wanted.

Raimi never rushes his story at all (ala Martin Brest in Meet Joe Black), and thus, we get to know each of these people, through the actions, interactions, and conversations, etc. Paxton is the college educated working man, with a good job, and a loving wife, and Thornton is the man whose never really known anything else, and is content with the simple things in life, even when presented with paradise. The best scenes in this movie, are the conversations, between the characters, about life, past, present and future. Thornton and Paxton exploring a childhood, as it really happened, as opposed to how it was perceived, Fonda, shifting into greedy overdrive, when presented with the possibility of a better life and Paxton's inner dilemma as the stakes rise. These are dealt with, in a deft, realistic manner. He also uses his cinematography in a masterful way. Symbolizing the actions, with the scenery, the vultures, the foxes, etc.

I've often said, that a good script, or one good performance, can enhance, and even raise the level, of those around, and engulfed in it. This is definitely the case here. Paxton and Fonda both do their best work yet. Paxton has rarely shown his dramatic touch (save his 1991 role in One False Move, ironically enough, written by Thornton), but it exists. He has always had that every man quality that we can relate with (who didn't or know, a big brother like Chet), but he's also always had that sense that something darker could be simmering underneath. Fonda has always had that sheepish, innocent quality, but here, as in Jackie Brown, she shows another level of herself. When the greed takes over her eyes, it's truly haunting, to see the real person inside here.

But the true gem of this movie is Thornton. He has completely redeemed himself for Armageddon, with this honest, simple, not as dumb as he may look, portrayal of Jacob. He is honest, because he knows no better, he needs nothing more than what he's always had, and when presented with a greater good, he is confused and conflicted. Thornton can dumb up with the best of them, but here, you feel everything he's been through, and that he has a simple intelligence, that most of us lose when book smarts take over. His life is good, why does he need anymore, the power and intensity that Thornton gives here, should bring him that well deserved little gold man in March. Although I do have to admit that I don’t understand how he's nominated as Supporting Actor, when he has nearly 2 hours of screen time, as opposed to Ed Harris in Truman Show, who has less than 20, and Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love who has about 8. Oh well, as long as he's recognized, it doesn't matter how he gets it.