A Simple Plan (1998)

The critic calls it Raimi’s best film, a subtle and restrained crime drama that stands out from his usual style. They praise the flawless cast, especially Paxton, Thornton, and Fonda, and Raimi’s effective use of tension and setting without exaggeration.

The critic calls it Raimi's finest film to date for its emotional power, subtlety and complex characters whose fates matter, in contrast to his earlier work. It singles out the strongly individualised lead performances, especially Bill Paxton's and Billy Bob Thornton's, and the film's stern morality for praise.

The critic praises the film's uncommon restraint and emotional power as a sad crime thriller about ordinary men undone by greed, calling it possibly Raimi's best and highlighting career-best work from Paxton and Thornton.

The critic praises the film as a chilly, engrossing and human character piece that marks Raimi's maturation as a director. He singles out the strong performances, particularly Billy Bob Thornton's as the dim-witted Jacob.

The critic praises the taut adaptation of the novel and Raimi’s restrained direction, which focuses on the characters’ moral deterioration rather than visual excess. Thornton’s performance as the simple-minded brother stands out as particularly compelling.

The review calls it a dark, dense thriller that replaces Raimi's earlier visual pyrotechnics with mature craftsmanship and a cracking story. It singles out the gripping dramatisation of greed's destructive effects and Billy Bob Thornton's standout performance.

The critic notes that Raimi's restrained direction allows the strong cast to shine in this bleak thriller about greed unraveling ordinary lives, praising its human heart and complex performances unlike the colder Coen brothers style.

The critic finds the film a quietly devastating thriller about ordinary people whose discovery of a fortune leads to an inescapable moral spiral. Strong performances, especially by Paxton and Thornton, anchor the bleak winter tale.

The critic calls it a cleverly convoluted Sam Raimi crime thriller, unfairly overshadowed by Fargo. They single out its focus on the corrosive power of greed and the heartbreaking, inevitable climax between the brothers.

The critic finds that Raimi renders the familiar story of dishonour among thieves fresh through calm, cool assurance and delivers an impressively lean thriller. It singles out the sturdy characterisation and taut plotting for praise.

The critic notes the film’s blend of crime drama and Midwestern Gothic elements, comparing it favorably to Fargo while praising Raimi’s shift toward character-driven storytelling. Performances by Paxton and Thornton are highlighted as first-rate.

The critic calls A Simple Plan perhaps Raimi's most mature and meaningful film, a grounded neo-noir tragedy about ordinary people corrupted by greed that remains tense and mournful two decades later. It singles out the strong performances, especially Bill Paxton's everyman lead and Billy Bob Thornton's Oscar-nominated turn, along with the film's literary weight and focus on human nature over flashy direction.

The piece discusses the film as Raimi's most restrained work, an improvement on the source novel with kinetic elements and a grim exploration of greed, class, and morality in a cold setting influenced by the Coens.

The critic finds the film a well-written but predictable tale of ordinary people undone by greed after discovering a fortune in a crashed plane. Raimi directs responsibly with strong performances, especially from Billy Bob Thornton, though it lacks the macabre edge of his horror work.

The critic praises Raimi's shift to character-driven drama in this neo-noir thriller about three men who find a fortune and the ensuing moral and personal unraveling. Billy Bob Thornton's nuanced portrayal of the sad, wistful Jacob stands out as particularly compelling.