A Simple Plan (1998)

Three blue-collar acquaintances come across millions of dollars in lost cash and make a plan to keep their find from the authorities, but it isn't long before complications and mistrust weave their way into the plan.

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers:

Scott B. Smith (novel), Scott B. Smith (screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Paxton	...	Hank
Bridget Fonda	...	Sarah
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Jacob
Brent Briscoe	...	Lou
Jack Walsh	...	Tom Butler
Chelcie Ross	...	Carl
Becky Ann Baker	...	Nancy Chambers
Gary Cole	...	Baxter
Bob Davis	...	FBI Agent Renkins
Peter Syvertsen	...	FBI Agent Freemont
Tom Carey	...	Dwight Stephanson
John Paxton	...	Mr. Schmitt
Marie Mathay	...	News Reporter
Paul Magers	...	Anchorman
Joan Steffand	...	Anchorwoman

Storyline

Three diverse characters, for the most part intellectually challenged, find a deserted plane with a bag full of millions of dollars inside. They devise a simple plan to keep the money if no-one claims it. Ofcourse, nothing turns out simple...

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Plot Keywords:

plane wreck | screenplay adapted by author | found money | bag of money | neo noir | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes good people do evil things.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the props used in the film were local items: for example the feed store calendar (used in the scene "Are you mean to tell me that there were five weeks last month?") is the State Bank of Delano anniversary calendar (current at the time of filming) which featured photos of historic buildings (some torn down) in the town (and town's past), hence its rustic addition of the prop to the feed store.

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Goofs

A funeral scene in the latter half of the movie takes place in the middle of winter, but is a full burial service. In Minnesota, as is the case with other northern locales where the ground is frozen for several months of the year, the funeral for someone who died in the winter would occur in two parts: a "real-time" memorial service followed by spring interment.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Hank Mitchell: [narrating] When I was still just a kid, I remember my father telling me what he thought that it took for a man to be happy. Simple things, really. A wife he loves, a decent job, friends and neighbors who like and respect him. And for a while there, without hardly even realizing it, I had all that. I was a happy man.

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Connections

Featured in Afrika (2002)

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Soundtracks

Auld Lang Syne
Traditional Scottish tune
Lyrics by Robert Burns
Arranged by Edrich Siebert
Courtesy of Associated Production Music

User Reviews

Dark and twisted - classy

This is not a pleasant film and you are going to have to think a little - if this doesn't sound like your type of movie, stay away! If, however, you like intelligent and peculiar film-making, then you'll probably appreciate A Simple Plan. In an effort somewhat reminiscient of Fargo meets Shallow Grave, this clever, dark, character drama explores some unpleasant ground to produce a quirky and distrubing overall result. I must admit I finished this movie feeling rather unpleasant, but struck by its intellect and striking dialogue and performances. This movie is definitely worth the price of a video. My vote 8/10

Details

Country:

UK Germany France USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Thousand Miles

Filming Locations:

Ashland, Wisconsin, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$390,563, 13 December 1998

Gross USA:

$16,316,273

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,316,273

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), H2L Media Group, Mutual Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1