Simpatico (1999)

After scams at horse races and making lots of money, 3 young people split. 20 years later, one of them, a drunk, creates chaos with photos from back then.

Director:

Matthew Warchus

Writers:

Sam Shepard (original play), Matthew Warchus (screenplay)

Stars:

Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges, Sharon Stone

1 nomination.

Cast

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

Storyline

As youths in Azusa, Vinnie, Carter, and Rosie pull off a racing scam, substituting winners for plodders and winning big bucks on long odds. When an official uncovers the scam, they set him up for blackmail. Jump ahead twenty years, Carter and Rosie are married, successful racers in Kentucky about to sell their prize stallion, Simpatico. Vinnie is a drunk in Pomona. Vinnie decides to make a play for Rosie, lures Carter to California, steals his wallet and heads for Kentucky with the original blackmail material. Carter begs Vinnie's friend, a grocery clerk named Cecilia, to follow Vinnie and get the stuff back that he has in a box. Will she succeed?

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Plot Keywords:

kentucky | blackmail | scam | woman smoker | volkswagen beetle | 

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Taglines:

How much can three friends share?

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong sexuality, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original 1999 stage production was directed by Sam Shepard and starred Fred Ward, Ed Harris and Beverly D'Angelo.

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Quotes

Simms: How many lives do you think a man can live, Mr. Webb, how many lives within this one?

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Simpatico/The Third Miracle/Titus (2000)

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Soundtracks

Opus 1 No 1 Adagio
(1760)
Composed by Joseph Haydn (as Franz Joseph Haydn)
Arranged by Jeff Gee
Performed by The Delme String Quartet (as Delme String Quartet)
Courtesy of Opus 1

User Reviews

Has a sleek poise and a nose for the finish line

Tale of long-past racing scam resurfacing to change the diverse lives of its perpetrators and victims isn't particularly subtle, with transformations and transferences flying around like abandoned betting slips, but it's very well acted by a dream cast (no less engaging for the fact that they don't all seem to be in quite the same film) and never loses its basic finesse. In its early stretches, as the pieces of the plot fall into place, the film builds a highly effective sense of escalating jeopardy, and the initial gambits on the theme of identity and impermanence are effective, leveling out a bit as thematic considerations seem to overtake the characters. Still, it has a sleek poise, and debuting director Warchus shows a distinct nose for the finish line - the film's closing scenes seem about right on their own terms, even if you're not sure about all the stuff that led you there (the horse Simpatico for instance seems ultimately to be carrying more symbolic weight than the course of the film supports).

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line

Country:

UK France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sympatico

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$929,606

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,281,813

Company Credits

Production Co:

Emotion Pictures, Canal+, Zeal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min 101 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1