- Title: USA: FILM PREMIERE OF SAM SHEPARD'S PLAY SIMPATICO STARRING NICK NOLTE
- Date: 13th December 1999
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 14) (RTV-LA ACCESS ALL) (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) NICK NOLTE SAYING OF LIFE AFTER THE OSCARS, "The Oscars don't change you. That's just an award. I didn't get into acting to get an award. I got into acting because I psychologically needed a home , you know? And it became a livelihood and then it became fame and success and then
- Embargoed: 28th December 1999 12:00
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- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVACB9KKD5TIJQGSENRB0RN1PW8Q
- Story Text: Following up his Oscar nominated performance in "Affliction," actor Nick Nolte turns to "Simpatico," the big screen adaptation of Sam Shepard's acclaimed play.Nolte and his co-star Sharon Stone attended the film's Los Angeles premiere.
"Simpatico" is the story of three life long friends who seemingly get away with a complex horse racing scam that nets them millions of dollars but in the process destroys their morals, their souls and ultimately, their relationships with each other.
The film begins 20 years after the scam ended with Vinnie (Nick Nolte) living in a disheveled, alcoholic daze in California, Lyle Carter (Jeff Bridges) in the lap of luxery as a handsome millionaire who seems to have it all, and Rosie (Sharon Stone) as the tormented wife of Carter who just can't seem to get beyond the events of 20 years prior that changed her life forever.
The story begins with Vinnie suddenly deciding he wants to make amends for the trio's sins of the past, especially those they committed on horse racing Commissioner Simms, played by Albert Finney.20 years earlier, they set Simms up in a sexual blackmail scheme in order to ensure his silence about their racing scam.
While Vinnie wants to confront Simms and atone for the horrible events of the past, Lyle Carter will do anything to try to stop him, because to expose the past would only destroy his modern day reputation as a respected Kentucky horse breeder, who happens to be on the verge of a big ticket sale of his prize stallion Simpatico.
When Rosie, who's in love with the prized equestrian, finds out about the sale, she takes some drastic action of her own.
What's most surprising about this role for Stone is how samll it is.In fact, Stone only has three major scenes and only shares the screen with Nolte once.But, the Oscar nominated actress said she took the part without question because she loved the story and the writings of playwrite Sam Shepard.She also got to ride the horse called Simpatico in the film while wearing an elegant red dress.
Also in the cast are Albert Finney as Commissioner Simms and independent film favorite Catherine Keener as Cecilia, a simple minded and naive woman who gets caught up in the dealings of the three friends and their deceptive schemes.
The film is the feature film directorial debut of Matthew Warchus, who is best known for his stage direction of plays on the London and New York theater scene.He was nominated for a Tony Award for his direction of the Broadway hit "Art,"
starring Alan Alda.
Although Sam Shepard is recognizable as an actor in such films as "The Pelican Brief," "Thunderheart," "Steel Magnolias" and his Oscar nominated performance in "The Right Stuff," Shepard has been writing critically-acclaimed plays since 1963.His greatest reward came for his play "Buried Child," for which he received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
"Simpatico" is now playing in Los Angeles in order to qualify for Oscar consideration and opens in theaters throughout the rest of the United States on January 21. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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