This is also helped by the fact that the film giving a noble, studious answer to Hank’s
carries superb performances from its three hypothetical question to how to resolve the
leads. Paxton plays Hank with such a down- money (“Give it to the police, it’s the right
to-earth quality that you want to punch him thing to do”), she turns to see millions of
in the face whenever he, the reasonable one dollars sitting on her kitchen table. And all
of the group, makes his own mistakes. Brent she can do is laugh…hysterically.
Briscoe as Lou manages to provide a good,
That small moment captures exactly why A
antagonistic wedge between all three while SIMPLE PLAN works as a tense, thought
still holding a layer of humanity to what
provoking thriller beyond the plotting, the
could’ve easily been a one-note character.
acting, and Raimi’s direction: you can give
But hands down, Billy Bob Thornton gives
every excuse in the book for why you would
such a tragically earnest performance in his give up the money, you can be the most
Oscar nominated turn as Jacob. He’s such a upright human being this side of Jesus, but
simple man, not too bright but has
talk is cheap. When a situation like that
unexpected moments of insight and
literally falls in front of you, human folly
awareness, and being tug-of-warred by Hank start to kick in and you really have to
and Lou is heartbreaking to watch.
consider your own ethical weight. Would you
In a small, yet equally important role, Bridget keep it or would you not? You never know
Fonda as Hank’s pregnant wife Sarah gives until you find out.
the most honest moment of the film: after