MovieChat Forums > A Simple Plan (1999) Discussion > Did the FBI agent *want* Hank to think h...

Did the FBI agent *want* Hank to think he was lying about the serial numbers?


The agent notes that a liar will often cover his mouth when talking. Mere seconds later, he speaks of recorded serial numbers, and briefly covers his mouth. No actor would touch their face during a tight shot unless directed to do so.

Perhaps the filmmakers wanted to tell us that the agent was lying, and that Hank fell for it. It seems unlikely to me, however, that a trained pro would legitimately commit the same gaffe he had *just* talked about. Was this some kind of psychological trick the agent was playing?

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I just watched this film a few weeks ago, ten minutes in I thought of the serial # counting as a possibility and would never keep the cash. I wanted to yell at the characters.

I don't know what FBI protocol is in a kidnapping ransom for money case.

But I'll place a large bet that recording serial # is and has been used by the FBI.

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I definitely think he was lying about the serial numbers. There would be no reason to give that information to Hank otherwise.

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