Neigh worries (Simpatico (DVD))

Member Name: x_elff_x

Product:	Simpatico (DVD)
Date:	06/05/02 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great acting, Good quality print

Disadvantages: Dearth of extras

Director Matthew Warchus
Writer Matthew Warchus, David Nicholls
Stars Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges, Sharon Stone, Catherine Keener, Albert Finney
Certificate 15
Running time 106 minutes
Made US 1999

Based on the stage play by Sam Shepard, this is theatre director Matthew Warchus's first foray into film and it's a pleasant run over the jumps.

Carter (Jeff Bridges) is a rich and successful horsebreeder, married to the beautiful Rosie (Sharon Stone). When he receives a phone call from Vinnie (Nick Nolte), their best friend some 20 years previously, asking for help, he finds his perfect life under threat from a betting scam they have kept secret for two decades.

Vinnie sets out to right the wrongs he thinks they have done to Simms (Albert Finney, on fine form), while Carter and Rosie sink into despair.

This is an engaging movie, which shows its theatrical origins, both positively and negatively.

On the plus side, there is a sharp script, with crisp punchy dialogue, although somewhat confusing for the first 20 minutes, as the premise of the story is revealed little by little.

This adds to the tension, while requiring considerable concentration from the viewer, as we ricochet from modern day to flashback, from Kentucky to California, in the blink of an eye.

Although the storyline is slight, the superb performances from the older experienced cast and the young actors, playing the teen trio, lift Simpatico above the norm. Bridges, Nolte and Stone are compelling, as individuals trying to come to terms with their past, and Finney is in his element as their nemesis, who has already come to terms with his. Catherine Keener's performance, too, is finely pitched.

The characterisation may be a little lacking and some of the personality changes rather swift, but with a cast of this calibre it's hard not to be carried away by their sheer ability to play these parts to the f
ull.

In the end, Warchus wins his first race into film, if only by a nose.


DVDetails

Region 2
Ratio 1:85:1
Sound Dolby Digital 2
Extras Scene selection; trailer; featurette

This is a competently packaged DVD, but holds little of interest other than the film itself. The print is sharp, with good colour saturation and the digital sound clear. There is no visible grain or scratching, but you wouldn't expect such blemishes in such a recent film.

It is a shame to see that there are no subtitles. It can't cost much to include them and they make DVDs so much more accessible to a wider audience.

When it comes to extras, the trailer is just that, the scene selection is static and the featurette somewhat pointless. Lasting only around ten minutes, it is more of a love-in between the leading actors and director than anything else, intercut with scenes from the movie and one or two pieces of footage from the shoot. It offers little insight and seems merely to be included because they had it kicking around. All in all a decent print, released by a company unwilling to go that extra mile in terms of additional features.


This review was reprinted with permission from my own review on www.insideoutfilm.co.uk.

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