A few years back, Fargo burst on to the screen--a fun crime thriller with quirky characters, offbeat dialogue and a look all its own directed by the infamous Coen brothers. Enter A Simple Plan, a film that proves it's not the story you tell, but how you tell it.

It was directed by Sam Raimi, a longtime friend of the Coen Brothers. Raimi made a name for himself directing visually stunning and expertly crafted horror films (Evil Dead trilogy, Darkman). He also paid homage to the spaghetti western with the lively The Quick And The Dead. As great as those films were, nothing prepared me for the masterwork he's done in A Simple Plan, a morality thriller written by Scott Smith.

Bill Paxton plays a small town family man who finds his life in turmoil after discovering a bag full of money in the wreckage of a plane crash. Although the cinematography is terrific, Raimi focuses on the acting and the results are stunning. Paxton turns in one of his best performances as an everyman forced to make severe decisions. Billy Bob Thornton is equally effective as his not-so-bright brother with a habit of putting his foot in his mouth. Rounding out the stellar cast are Bridget Fonda and Brent Briscoe.

However, the real star of the film is Raimi. He sets a gloomy tone from frame-one and keeps the film at a tense and taut pace--all set to a brilliant score by the prolific Danny Elfman.

A Simple Plan is a rare treat. An unpredictable, character-driven nail-biter that grabs you and doesn't let go. Raimi established himself as a gifted filmmaker that is here to stay.