MovieChat Forums > A Simple Plan (1999) Discussion > Really great movie except for one thing

Really great movie except for one thing

posted 3 years ago by damocci (1514)
4 replies | jump to latest

I watched this for the first time today and thought it was really good. Very reminiscent of Fargo, but in a good way.

However, the appearance of the fake FBI agent really strains credibility. You're telling me the police station wouldn't have confirmed his identity instead of taking his word for it? Then again, the police force in this movie did seem rather incompetent regarding the investigations of the snowmobile accident and the shootout involving Lou, so maybe this was intentional on the filmmakers' part?

For this reason, Fargo is the superior movie. A Simple Plan is still really good though.

[–] ExTechOp (2770) 3 years ago

Carl the sheriff didn't seem that bright at any point, so I was OK with him never having asked for a badge. Hank even says it to his wife when she asks about him, "Why would he show me his badge?"

Now if Vernon (presumably his real name as the pilot's brother) had started demanding records or evidence, the police might've demanded a badge or checked with the FBI. But he didn't.

Instead, he's just looking for a lost plane and seems deliberately casual about the whole thing, like it's no big deal. Seems even less likely a sheriff like Carl would demand a badge much less check with the FBI about an Agent Baxter.

[–] rex (2828) 2 years ago

no one questions Gary Cole, he's legit

[–] ExTechOp (2770) 2 years ago

Gary Cole's legit alright ... it honestly threw me for a loop when he appeared, because he "swings both ways" (i.e., good and evil, smart and dumb) so easily.

I recall seeing him in "Project Greenlight," playing himself while auditioning for a role, and it was genuinely freaky to see him go instantly into character. Same w/ William Sadler, who was auditioning for the same role.

[–] buzzlightbeer (1904) 2 years ago

Also, dont forget the movie was set 25 years ago when the internet barely existed. Lots of other things about life were different too. You first saw it with 2022 eyes but its hard now to take it in the context of 1998