Home > Movies > Simpatico > Reviews

Simpatico Review:
The horseracing movie Simpatico gets off to a great start on its first leg, beautifully shot and smartly edited, revealing few details about the mysterious hold the scraggly layabout Vinnie Webb (Nick Nolte) has over millionaire breeder Lyle Carter (Jeff Bridges). As Carter leaves in the midst of a major deal to sell his prize horse, in order to fly from Kentucky to Southern California at a moment's notice, there are hints at major scandal and lewd underhanded dealings. However, as the narrative unfolds, the secrets of Sam Shepard's play are not as earth-shattering as expected, which inevitably saps some of the life from the picture. By the time it wraps up, the drama has become overwrought, with Sharon Stone's character in particular losing her marbles in a way that outstretches her sins. Still, Shepard's words, adapted by David Nicholls and director Matthew Warchus, are often capable of eliciting great performances; Nolte and Bridges are both electric, but they're surpassed by the great Albert Finney as a disgraced racing official putting his life back together, trying to avoid the temptation that once burned him. Master cinematographer and two-time Oscar winner John Toll gives the picture a rich twilight look, which doubles as thematic commentary on the impending downfall of schemers who had cheated discovery for too long. Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide