Wild horses couldn’t keep Sharon Stone, Nick Nolte and other A-list celebrities from attending the premiere of the indie thriller “Simpatico,” which benefited the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
“I’m the campaign chairman for the American Foundation for AIDS Research,” said Stone. “I’m doing that because 32 million people are living with AIDS and 16.2 million have died already.
“If we don’t do something by 2002, there will be 100 million people living with AIDS. I can’t live with that. I’m trying to get people to pay attention.”
“Simpatico” is the story of deceit, love and revenge set in the high-stakes of world of thoroughbred racing. The film is based on the Sam Shepard play, and all bets were placed on director Matthew Warchus to adapt “Simpatico” to the big screen.
“When it turns out to be Matthew Warchus directing, you can thank your lucky stars,” said Stone.
With a screenplay that retained all of its original appeal and an award-winning theater director attached, it was easy for A-list actors Sharon Stone, Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges and Albert Finney to spot a winning project.
“I knew about the play and knew Ed Harris did it on Broadway,” said Nolte. “Sam was a little cynical. I called up Sam and said, ‘I think this is gonna work.’
“He just joked, ‘This will be the first time one of my plays translated well to film.’ It takes a theater director like Warchus that can take a play, pull it out and visualize it.”
The film also stars Kimberly Williams (“Father of the Bride”), Catherine Keener (“Living in Oblivion“) and newcomer Liam Waite. In “Simpatico,” Williams was posed with the challenge of playing a young Sharon Stone.
Possibly debilitating for any other young star, but when asked how it really was playing a young Stone, she just quipped, “She’s (Stone) playing an older Kimberly Williams.”
Keener, who is now on the fast track after the critical success of her role in “Being John Malkovich,” arrived at the premiere with husband Dermot Mulroney (“My Best Friend’s Wedding“).
The real buzz at the premiere was mostly surrounding Stone‘s gorgeous Vera Wang beaded pants (“Check out my pants!”) and hot newcomer Liam Waite.
In his first major feature role, Waite (son of Ralph Waite of “The Waltons”) comes equipped with model good looks and a great set of acting genes.
“I play a young Jeff Bridges, explaining the story before it really happens. We’re young kids trying to hustle the track and get caught doing it,” said Waite.
At the premiere, Waite arrived arm-in-arm with fiancée Na tasha Henstridge (“Species“) and memories of the moment he got cast for the breakthrough role.
“It was pretty wild. I had a hell of night. I had a baby boy and was waiting to rush to the hospital at any given moment. All while going into rotations of three, over and over, like football cuts,” he said.
“Simpatico” rode into theaters Dec. 15.
