A Simple Plan (1998) (Value Line Widescreen DVD)

Raimi breaks out of genre films with this tight, effective thriller. When two brothers, Hank (Paxton) and Jacob (Thornton), and their friend Lou (Briscoe), find 4.4 million dollars inside a crashed plane, they believe they've found the financial answer to all their problems. All they have to do is keep it a secret until the plane is discovered and any investigations are completed. This proves to be easier said than done, however, when the three men (as well as Hank's wife, Sarah, played by Fonda), each with their different reasons, begin to lose trust in the others. When an FBI agent comes to town, the tension becomes explosive resulting in deceit and, ultimately, murder. Raimi makes brilliant use of icy Minnesota locales. Thornton's performance was recognized by the Academy with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The script, by Smith from his own novel, was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.