MovieChat Forums > A Simple Plan (1999) Discussion > Fantastic acting and directing make up f...

Fantastic acting and directing make up for the kind of silly script

posted 8 years ago by ejonconrad
3 replies | jump to latest

This movie has some truly great acting and directing, particularly Billy Bob Thornton. I don't recall ever seeing him do a better job. Bridget transformation from charming wife and mother to manipulative bitch was also pretty impressive.

Still, it's hard to get around some of the problems with the script. We've known since Treasure of Sierra Madre that when a group of friends stumbles onto a fortune:
- Greed will drive them crazy and make them turn on each other
- One or more of them will become killers
- They will make some very bad decisions
- It will not end well.

But this takes all of those to such absurd levels that it becomes a Fargo-like comedy at points, which I don't think was the plan.

It does get better as it goes, though, if you stick with it. Definitely worth watching.

[–] janet-conant 8 years ago

Definetly worth watching. I totally agree this is Billy Bob's best acting.

[–] noveltylibrary 8 years ago

I was blown away by this movie when it first came out and just watched it again tonight for maybe the 20th time. You're right, it's the fantastic acting.

[–] janet-conant 8 years ago

I think it works very well. Carl is just a folksy sort of sheriff that can't believe Hank could be guilty of anything and Jacob is too "simple" to commit murder. I liked, before they get in too deep into the plan, Jacob visits Sarah in the hospital and as a new baby goes by Jacob says it looks like a red tomato.