A SIMPLE PLAN (1998), dir. Sam Raimi

Strong characterization is what puts this movie in the upper echelon of thrillers. The screenplay, adapted by Scott B. Smith from his own novel of the same name, establishes the relationships between its protagonists early on. Then, as the wheels of mistrust, alliance-making, and inevitable betrayal are set in motion, Smith builds suspense by either meeting or defying the viewer’s expectations. A nimble writer, he sometimes accomplishes both within the same scene.

The plot of “A Simple Plan” mirrors the novel: Amidst a snowy wasteland, brothers Hank (Bill Paxton) and Jacob Mitchell (Billy Bob Thornton), along with Jacob’s loutish pal Lou (Brent Briscoe), stumble across a crash-landed Cessna in a remote wooden location. Inside, they find a dead pilot, as well as a duffel bag stuffed with over four million dollars in cash. At first, Hank insists that they report their discovery to the authorities. But after much goading – mainly by the down-on-his-luck Lou, with whom Hank shares a mutual dislike – the trio agrees to hide the money in Hank’s house until they can be certain that cops or drug dealers are not tracking it down.

Unfortunately, keeping the money secret requires quick thinking and tight lips, something that simple-minded Jacob and Lou have in short supply. Also, any trust between the three co-conspirators already shows signs of fraying early on. Once the situation escalates – with the brothers finding themselves caught up in assault, then murder – Hank not only has to protect the money from discovery, but his own reputation against Lou, who desperately wants his share.

Throw into the mix a come-lately FBI agent (Gary Cole) who may not be everything that he claims, and you get a movie that almost becomes exhaustive in its slithery-ness. But as the corpses pile up and the sense of impending doom mounts, what makes “A Simple Plan” increasingly fascinating is trying to pin down the intimate relationships – Hank and Jacob; Hank and his wife Sarah (Bridget Fonda) – that lie at the film’s center. Will the lonely and unemployed, but strangely innocent Jacob, who has long nursed a grudge against Hank for their family’s misfortunes, side with his buddy Lou against him? Meanwhile, how far will Sarah, who started off as a sweet, caring mother-to-be, push Hank to keep the fortune, after initially telling him to turn it in?

Ultimately, “A Simple Plan” contains a moral lesson for audiences, that none of us, whether the town drunk or upstanding citizens, is immune to the corruptive power of greed. It’s an important lesson, and Raimi shows an unexpected maturity and restraint in conveying it. Known for his wild, high-energy style in the “Evil Dead” and “Spider-Man” movies, I can only think of one scene where the director likely resorted to special effects over his talented cast. That scene involved a highly-strung stand-off between two characters; a shotgun blast deflates the tension, albeit in a manner reminiscent of the air being let out of a cartoon inner tube.

Overall rating: ****