A Simple Plan

:For the pop-punk band, see Simple Plan.

Movie version

The movie A Simple Plan, based on the novel, was released in 1998. It was directed by Sam Raimi and starred Bill Paxton as Hank Mitchell, Bridget Fonda as Sarah and Billy Bob Thornton as Jacob. Billy Bob Thornton was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Scott B. Smith also wrote the screenplay and was nominated for the Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay.

Related Topics:
Movie - 1998 - Sam Raimi - Bill Paxton - Bridget Fonda - Billy Bob Thornton - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay

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The screenplay made numerous changes to the plot, particularly to events in the second half of the novel. In the movie, after Lou and Nancy are killed, Hank does not kill Sonny or shoot Jacob; rather, he constructs a domestic dispute situation involving just Nancy and Lou, with he and Jacob walking in after Lou had killed Nancy.

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The movie also changes Hank's reaction to finding out Baxter isn't an FBI agent. Rather than bolting, as he does in the novel, Hank stays with the plan realizing that if he leaves Baxter will kill Carl. Jacob also accompanies the crew. The result is a bloodbath, with only Hank surviving. Jacob is killed by Hank after Jacob threatens to commit suicide because he feels he can no longer live with what he's seen; Hank didn't want him to kill himself because which guns shot whom needed to align for his alibi.

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The movie also excludes Hank's killing spree with the cashiers.

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Overall, the changes made the finished story less violent and Hank's character more compassionate. Although Hank commits crimes throughout both, in the movie he does not commit premeditative murder, as he does to Sonny and the cashier in the novel. Hank is also depicted protecting Carl in the movie, whereas in the novel he leaves Carl for dead. Much of the dialogue and themes, however, are carefully maintained in both mediums.

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