Simone

Rating

Director

Andrew Niccol

Screenplay

Andrew Niccol

Length

1h 57m

Starring

Al Pacino, Catherine Keener, Evan Rachel Wood, Jason Schwartzman, Winona Ryder, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Jay Mohr, Rachel Roberts

MPAA Rating

PG-13 (For some sensuality)

Review

A computer genius’ dying request is that his computer simulation program be used to revolutionize filmmaking. Simone is a thought-provoking commentary on the film industry and its eternal pursuit for celebrity.

Al Pacino stars as Viktor Taransky a filmmaker bent towards artistic movies as opposed to box office sensationalism. When he ridicules his lead actress, a self-absorbed diva named Nicola Anders (Winona Ryder), he finds his contract pulled by his ex-wife Elaine Christian (Catherine Keener) and forced to remove himself from the film lot. That night, he is approached by a dying scientist who has created a computer program that can capture human emotion through a fully rendered digital performance.

Secretly, Taransky develops his project and eventually gets his once-stalled project green-lit and causes a furor over his new discovery, Simone. Her name is derived from the program that created her, Simulation One. Her celebrity builds to such fervor that Taransky digs himself slowly deeper. He perpetuates her existence despite his own words that he would cease using her after the film is completed.

To help maintain the perception that Simone is real, Taransky goes to great lengths and financial efforts to keep her identity a secret. One of the more ingenious ways is when Viktor begins filming his second movie starring the mysterious starlet, he arranges for the cast to meet in his office on the lot and speak with Simone via a comm. system he has setup in the barren sound stage. There he has established Simone’s computer and microphone system. He forces the cast to introduce themselves and while they are doing so, he rushes across the lot to the stage and takes over the persona using a vocal and body language mimicry program feature.

Going to great trouble to continue public perception, Taransky eventually drives himself down a dangerous and unavoidable road that leads to murder and salvation. He does all of this just to bring his unique vision to an audience who only wants to see the most popular actress in the world.

No one can do manic-destructive better than Pacino and he does it up in Simone with no fear of repercussion. Unfortunately, his is the least impressive of the film’s performances. Keener is far better than Pacino as the mistrusting, love-injured studio boss. Evan Rachel Wood does even better as Taransky’s computer-savvy daughter Lainey.

None of these actors however can eclipse the amazing turnaround performance by Ryder who gives her best performance yet as the incredibly shallow and eventually down-to-earth actress who begins Taransky’s downward spiral.

Writer and director Andrew Niccol takes a huge chance selecting a rather obscure idea and develops it into one of the best-written screenplays of the year. Simone is a revelation of thought-provoking filmmaking. He demands his audience to both think and to respond. Not only is it a deep, topic-driven film, Simone is also a raucous satire that exposes the film industry to its hilarious core.

Simone delves into the inner workings of studio politics and the euphoric flight of fancy that turns even the most pallid movie into a box office and awards success. Audiences should easily follow the story and enjoy the film despite missing some of the interior commentaries about the medium.

Awards Prospects: Simone, being a scathing satire of the film industry, is unlikely to figure in any of the major awards races despite its overwhelming creativity. It’s deserving of nominations for Picture, Screenplay and Supporting Actress (Ryder), but will likely fail to receive even a mention.

Review Written

October 29, 2002