Simpatico Movie Review 1999

Excellent performances and a disappointing script mark this adaptation of the Sam Shephard play. Nolte is Vinnie, who has evidence of horse breeder Carter's (Bridges) involvement in a past race fixing and blackmail scheme. Vinnie's been blackmailing Carter for years and summons him to California on the pretense of helping Vinnie out of a sexual misconduct rap. The supposed victim (Keener) of the misconduct is unaware that any took place and agrees to help Carter. Vinnie then steals Carter's I.D, car, and plane ticket and visits their old blackmail victim (Finney), and then Carter's wife Rosie (Stone), who was also in on the con. In a haze of confused motivations and implausible plot macinations, the three try to redeem their past deeds, with Vinnie and Carter seemingly switching places.

Distribution

Warner Home Video, Inc., 5775 Linder Canyon Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362, URL: http://whv.warnerbros.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 106 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Plays to Film: Sam Shepard, Horses, Scams, Stings & Cons, Romantic Triangles, Flashback, Jockeying for Position, Contemporary Noir

Screenplay

Matthew Warchus, David Nicholls

Cast

Nick Nolte, Sharon Stone, Jeff Bridges, Catherine Keener, Albert Finney, Shawn Hatosy, Kimberly Williams, Liam Waite

Cinematography

John Toll

Director

Matthew Warchus

Music

Stewart Copeland

Producer

Fine Line Features