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A Simple Plan
***1/2
Cinema
Releases - May 21, 1999
Rated on a 4-star
scale. USA. Directed by Sam Raimi. Written by Scott B. Smith; based upon
his own novel. Starring Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda, Brent
Briscoe, Gary Cole, Becky Ann Baker, Chelcie Ross, Jack
Walsh.
As several critics have noted, Sam Raimi's "A
Simple Plan" is like a serious version of "Very Bad Things". That
horrible film, which I reviewed back in January, introduced us to a terrifying,
violent situation of murder and deception, then mocked it, turning into a
slapstick comedy. I remember thinking that if it had the courage to exploit
the dramatic potential of its set-up, and explore what the characters would
really do in their predicament, it could have been something really
special.
"A Simple Plan" has that courage. The story begins
when three small-town friends go casually looking in snowy woods for their
dog, which has run after something. Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton) is the smartest
of the trio, an upstanding member of the community, with a nice cosy home
and a gorgeous pregnant wife (Bridget Fonda). Hank's brother Jacob (Billy
Bob Thornton) is more slow-witted and annoying, but he's an innocent, with
the simple dreams of owning the farm he and Hank grew up on, and maybe finding
a woman. Until that happens, however, he's content to hang around with Lou
(Brent Briscoe), the third man here, who dropped out of high school as a
teenager, only to end up as the town's most pathetic drunk.
In the woods, Hank, Jacob and Lou stumble across
the wreck of a small aeroplane. Its pilots are already rotting, and all that
survives is a few pieces of luggage. One bag happens to contain four million
dollars in $100 bills, and from this discovery, of course, arguing, plotting
and dreaming begins...
Eventually, the three men decide that Hank will
hold onto the money until spring, when the snow will melt, and the plane
will be officially discovered. If it looks like nobody is after the money,
they will divide it three ways and discreetly leave town.
It almost goes without saying that this simple
plan does not play out with ease. Greed, lack of patience, bad judgement
and temper tantrums turn a happy finding into an emotional cesspit of
psychological trauma, danger, violence, anger and shame.
Looking at its parts, "A Simple Plan" offers nothing
particularly original. Dim-witted crime against a snowy backdrop was seen
in the Coen brothers' comedy "Fargo", and the classic "Treasure of the Sierra
Madre" shows how greed can corrupt values. And we've seen hundreds of films
in which friends stumble upon a loot -- all the quarrelling, plotting, falling
out and getting stories straight is now not only familiar, but cliché.
What is so impressive about "A Simple Plan" is the way we're drawn in by
a sense of reality. As well as excellent performances, with convincingly
genuine mannerisms, the amazing cinematography by Alar Kivilo seems as clear
and actual as anything we've ever seen with our eyes. Danny Elfman's haunting
score, with its palpable sense of foreboding, seems to be made of natural
creaks and birdsounds. And although it was the screenplay that got an Oscar
nomination, the directing of Raimi is what really puts this simple plan into
motion -- we really feel the awesome desire for the cash, and the
guilt, anxiety and stress of the horrible actions.
Also, unlike in most movies of this type, in which
we think we ourselves would have been intelligent enough to get out of the
situation, we understand how the mess gets gradually deeper, because Raimi
makes every step seem unavoidable. After all, even with the most intelligent
scheme, unforeseen obstacles are the worst kind. The climax of the movie
gets a little farfetched, but by the time it's arrived, we're too involved
to notice, and it's happening to us. I felt tense, and honestly didn't know
how the story was going to end.
Even with all this going on, "A Simple Plan" still
finds time for quiet moments, and beautifully illustrated pathos, especially
for the scarred characters of Fonda and Thornton. This is a moving tragedy,
with images that will haunt me. I've always admired Raimi's work, but didn't
think he was capable of this -- it's a brilliantly crafted piece of sober
drama, from the king of over-the top gore. I can't wait to see his next projects,
because one day soon, he may just turn out to be a truly great
filmmaker.
COPYRIGHT© 1999 Ian
Waldron-Mantgani
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