El secreto

You'd think that a movie with the acting power of Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges, and Sharon Stone would be one to watch. Well.......it is and it isn't.

First off, I'd never in my life thought I'd see Nolte and Bridges in the same movie. Talk about an odd pairing!

With that out of the way, they both put in good performances, as does Stone. The star of this movie though is Albert Finney. His performance is the best of all the parts in this movie.

Unfortunately the plot, involving a racing scam many years ago which resurfaces, is only mildly interesting at best. It seems almost a shame to have such good performances wasted on such a story. Still, it's worth a watch if nothing else is on.

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.

Matthew Warchus directed 'Simpatico' has an interesting premise, but the advantage of it's promising concept, doesn't really reflect on celluloid. Reason? The Screenplay is stretched & slightly unspoken. It offers a few interesting moments in the first hour, but the second hour doesn't offer much.

'Simpatico' is a tale of betrayal, greed, vengeance & complications. Though adapted by a play, this drama begins well, but, as told before, drags itself too much towards the end, and thus, the impact goes amiss.

Matthew Warchus has directed this story fairly. Cinematography is perfect. Editing is passable. Acting Wise: Nick Nolte is just about okay. Jeff Bridges is decent, while Sharon Stone gets very limited scope. Albert Finney and Catherine Keener are noticeable.

On the whole, An Average Fare, At Best.

Vinnie Webb (Nick Nolte), Lyle (Jeff Bridges) and Rosie Carter (Sharon Stone) were very good friends many years back and used to scam at races. Fast forward to 20 years and they all took different roads; Vinnie looks like a hobo with drinking problems and can't even pay his rent, Lyle and Rosie are divorced but are about to sell their prize stallion Simpatico. After Vinnie manages to steal Lyle's wallet unknown to him, he goes to Kentucky for blackmail an official that uncovers their past scams.

In the first half SIMPATICO looked decent but as it progressed, it became confusing and dull. At times Vinnie's motives looked unclear while Lyle spent most of his time shouting, and the scene where Rosie rides Simpatico for the last time and then shoots him... why they had to put it? It was also badly edited and not likeable. Nolte, Bridges and Stone give their best with the material given, but they surely deserved better than this. And everything else about the film is just as forgettable.

Not a terrible movie but very bland instead, just like eating toast: not that bad but something nobody would ever look forward to.

Like the race-horse of the title, the cast in this dark, eccentric tale are pure thoroughbreds...Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges, Albert Finney,Kathryn Keener, Sharon Stone along with up and comer Shawn Hatosy. And though the director, Matthew Warchus, appears to be a first time helmer, his handling of these pros is sure-footed. Warchus also does an impressive job of steering us through a complex plot with sure, visual dexterity. SIMPATICO, from a script by Warchus, based on a Sam Shepard play, really isn't about horse-racing. It's an entertaining exploration of betrayal, survival and how the simple passage of time changes the whole equation.