MovieChat Forums > A Simple Plan (1999) Discussion > Contrary to what some of you are saying,...

Contrary to what some of you are saying, I think Hank was very smart....

posted 10 years ago by ajtaylor82
6 replies | jump to latest

I LOVE THIS MOVIE, one of my favorite thrillers...

I've enjoyed reading the forums....but I have to disagree with some of you who say Hank was just an average, not-so-bright blue collar guy....

I definitely agree that there are ways to launder money (Better call Saul!!!), and he should have thought it through....but basically I think the reason he burned it was because he was in shock/anger/denial/etc. (he did kill his brother and cause four other murders) and was just OVER IT. By then he was probably so tormented, traumatized, etc. that he figured there was just no way out and that it needed to end. That was his only way out.

Granted, he wasn't a super sophisticated guy, but I think he was plenty smart.

So was his wife.

The rest of the people in the movie were dumb as rocks.

[–] cartesianthought 9 years ago

Hank was smart, at least in terms of being manipulative and cunning. Since he said "I keep the money or else we don't do this", this was obvious. But, of course, he has his weaknesses as well.

[–] coys77 9 years ago

His wife of course was good at coming up with ideas, for what to do, while she slept on it, whereas, Hank thought on his feet well.

It's a great film, but not many people know about it, which is a shame.. Billy Bob Thornton quite rightly up for best supporting actor at the Oscars.. 8/10

[–] lvince-33387 9 years ago

Hank seemed smarter than he probably was when compared to Jacob and Lou. He was really the only one of the three who was half-way capable of pulling that off. But of course, in the end, it all came crashing down. I don't think their plan ever had a chance in the first place.
I thought Billy Bob Thornton and Bill Paxton gave stand-out performances.

[–] MoviemanCin 9 years ago

I loved the film, but I disagree completely. Hank was the biggest idiot of all three! He "put on airs" (as Lou said) and should have known better. He starts by arguing to call the police and turn in the money. Then he turns on a dime, and commits a cold blooded murder. If he doesn't do that, probably nobody gets killed.

He then stupidly plays the tape recording for Lou which causes Lou's killing, and then he has to kill Lou's wife in self defense. He follows that up with two more cold blooded murders, including his OWN BROTHER. And he didn't even think to load the gun until he was in the plane.

He was not only DUMB, but EVIL! About the only smart thing he does is burn the money, but only after six people have been killed.

Jacob and Lou were idiots, so you sort of expected dumb behavior from them.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.

[–] MaximRecoil (4618) 5 years ago

"He "put on airs" (as Lou said) and should have known better."

Having a broader vocabulary than a dumbass like Lou doesn't equate to "putting on airs." In reality, "insinuate" isn't the fancy, highfalutin word that Lou thinks it is.

"He follows that up with two more cold blooded murders, including his OWN BROTHER."

In the case of his brother, it was an assisted suicide that he was adamantly opposed to, not a "cold blooded murder." His brother would have been dead either way, considering he had a gun to his own head ready to dust himself if Jake didn't do it.

[–] HelpMeRhonda (1158) 3 years ago

He was an idiot. He should've gone with his gut and turned in the money.