Simpatico (1999)

User Rating:

4.0/10   

Director:

Matthew Warchus

Writers:

Sam Shepard (play)
Matthew Warchus (writer) ...

Release Date:

4 February 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

How much can three friends share?

Plot:

As youths in Azusa, Vinnie, Carter, and Rosie pull off a racing scam, substituting winners for plodders and winning big bucks on long odds...

Plot Keywords:

Blackmail | Kentucky | Scam | Photograph | Number 5

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Nick Nolte	...	Vincent Webb
Jeff Bridges	...	Lyle Carter
Sharon Stone	...	Rosie Carter
Catherine Keener	...	Cecilia
Albert Finney	...	Simms / Ryan Ames
Shawn Hatosy	...	Young Vinnie Webb
Kimberly Williams-Paisley	...	Young Rosie (as Kimberly Williams)
Liam Waite	...	Young Lyle Carter
Whit Crawford	...	Jean
Bob Harter	...	Louis
Angus T. Jones	...	5-Year-Old Kid
Ken Strunk	...	Charlie
Ashley Gutherie	...	Kelly
Maria Carretero	...	Airport Attendant
Nicole Forester	...	Flight Attendant

Also Known As:

Simpatico (France)
Sympatico (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexuality, and for language.

Runtime:

106 min | Germany:101 min (TV version)

Country:

UK | France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Spain:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Company:

Canal+

Soundtrack:

Divertimento No 1 Allegro

A Disappointment

I like Jeff Bridges tremendously, so I'll watch anything with him in. But this film has so many loose ends, you could make a ragrug.

Good acting by all, but a good dollop of suspension of disbelief is necessary with so many unlikely events or inconclusive nuances of the plot. Vinnie and his girlfriend checking into the same hotel and not knowing it. What was that all about? And what was Carter arranging with Simms anyway even before Vinnie turns up from the past?

The central premise seemed to be Simms's reconciliation with the past - forgive and forget. Very good, but this wasn't developed enough. Okay Carter throws it all away through guilt and wants the simple life again. But it's not believable. They can't be nineteen again.

It should have been filmed in the European style - slow and ponderous would have been so much better. But this version is too clipped and compromised with modern moviegoers tastes. Stone is very very good. Nice to see Nolte in rags again, it's his forte. Jeff is sleepwalking though. New girl terrific. Does she go back to Vinnie in the end or go with Simms? I think it's back to Vinnie. It almost works - I like movies that exercise the mind and leave loose ends to speculate on. But without the basic substance, loose ends is all Simpatico has.