Simone
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DVD details
Actor: Al Pacino, Benjamin Salisbury, Darnell Williams, Jim Rash, Winona RyderBrand: New Line Home Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Full Screen, Live, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 117 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-01-21
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: New Line Home Video
Product features:
- Great movie!
DVD Reviews of Simone
DVD Review: Smart and funny, one of my favorite films
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very smart, funny, and observant film about Hollywood, the media in general, and the public, and how they manipulate each other. Al Pacino plays Viktor Taransky, a film director who has made some good films in the past, but has a difficult time dealing with the childish whims of spoiled stars. When his current leading lady Nichola Anders (Winona Ryder) walks off the set, the studio pulls the plug on his latest project, and Viktor finds himself suddenly struggling to keep his career alive, He receives a computer program from a fan which allows him to create a virtual actress, who he names Sim One, or Simone, who he then digitally inserts into all the scenes which Nichola had formerly occupied, and finishes his film. The film (titled "Sunrise, Sunset") opens to astonishing reviews, and everyone wants to know about this new starlet. Viktor is concerned about maintaining the illusion that Simone is an actual person, so much of the rest of the movie is devoted to providing necessary media exposure for Simone, while concealing the fact that she doesn't really exist outside of a computer. Viktor cleverly arranges for remote interviews on popular talk shows, even a "live" (actually holographic) concert appearance. One very funny sequence involves arranging for Simone to be seen driving in freeway traffic, and conversing with Viktors ex-wife Elaine, who is driving in an adjacent car. In another scene, Viktor simulates spending an evening with Simone in a posh hotel, knowing that papparazzi are outside waiting for any glimpse of her. He thus cleverly links himself to Simone even more closely in the media spotlight, and enhances his own fame. Simones second film ("Eternity Forever") only increases the adoration which the public and the media hold for her. A funny inside joke takes place at the awards ceremony following the second film, where the three actresses who were nominated besides Simone all have computer names (Claris Apple, Lisa Packard, and Lotus Corel). A similar joke was to be included in the credits for "Sunrise, Sunset", which unfortunately, was cut from the theatrical release, but is included in the special features of the DVD. As the credits roll, everyone connected with the film other than Simone has the name of a computer or software company. There is also a very humorous sub-plot in which suspicious journalists from a newsmagazine called "The Echo" stalk Viktor in an attempt to uncover the truth about Simone. Certain that Viktor is hiding something, their efforts are marred by one of them liking Simone just a little bit TOO much. Although they collect a lot of "evidence", they overlook the obvious conclusion.
As the deception continues, Viktors lies about Simone begin to take on a life of their own. Gradually, Viktor begins to exhibit signs of schizophrenia, as he provides the voice (suitably modulated by computer) for Simone, and he begins having two-sided conversations with Simone. Eventually, "her" personality begins to diverge from his, and demonstrates the beginnings of independence. Viktor tries to tell the truth to his ex-wife, Elaine (with whom he hopes to reconcile), but when he tells her that he made Simone, she replies "No Viktor, she made you". At this point, Viktor decides it is time to end Simones career, and he makes a film intended to ruin her in the public eye ("I Am Pig"). His plan backfires and the audiences view the film as an emotially moviing work of the highest calibre. He sabotages her appearance on another talk show, making her look something like Courtney Love and having her say controversial, intentionally unpopular things (such as "God created furry animals to be worn"), but nothing he does can make the public dislike Simone. In desperation, Viktor announces that she has died, and subsequently finds himself charged with her murder.
Attempts to clear his name meet with failure, and only the intervention of his computer-savvy daughter save Viktor from certain conviction and likely execution, given Simones popularity.
Al Pacino plays Viktor as an experienced, and perhaps somewhat weary, but brilliant master of his craft. In his mind, the director and the studio makes the star by providing them a means of expression in film. But he feels that stars mock their directors and studios, and so he seizes the opportunity to use someone like Simone to create his masterpieces. Rachel Roberts is absolutely luminous as Simone, and I hope to see her in other films. She is simply amazing. Very high marks also to Evan Rachel Wood, who played Viktors daughter Lainey, smart, cute, and emotionally mature beyond her years. Winona Ryder is great as Nichola Anders, the spoiled star who walks off the set, but returns later to read for a part as a supporting character in a movie with Simone. She does get a chance to show a small sample of her genuine acting ability, and it is impressive.
The film pokes good natured fun at Hollywood and the media, and also makes some good points about the manner in which some stars become almost gods, worshipped by millions of fans, and how people are inclined to make very favorable assumptions about those who they adore.
This was a VERY funny film, full of sly irony, well-written and well-acted, which deserved to do better at the theatres. That it didn't do better is probably because most of the humor is more of a subtle, intellectual sort, and I suspect many of the jokes went over the heads of much of the audience, i.e. many probably just didn't "get" the joke mentioned above involving the names of the other actresses at the awards ceremony. This is not a "National Lampoon" sort of film at all.
Rather, "Simone" is as nearly a perfect comedy as I can recall ever seeing. The only improvement I can think of would have been to leave in some of the deleted scenes (however, I suppose the decision was made to prevent the film from being too long, as it is nearly two hours AFTER being cut. The DVD includes almost 20 deleted scenes, so it would have been a very long film had they not been cut). In addition to the deleted scenes, the special features also includes two trailers, and two documentaries on the making of "Simone", including interviews with Rachel Roberts, and others connected with the film. I am very pleased to have this DVD. Its a keeper.
Description of Simone
After the lead actress drops out of his latest project, a movie producer replaces her with an entirely CGI-character who becomes a major star. The producer must continue the charade when the public does not realize the actress is CGI-generated.DVD Features:
DVD ROM Features:Script-to-screen
DVD ROM exclusive web site:The real S1M0NE websites
Deleted Scenes:Deleted scenes with direct access from the film
Documentaries:Cyber Stardom; Simulating S1M0NE FX
Full Screen Version:Widescreen and fullscreen versions of the film
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer:Teaser trailer; Theatrical trailer
What do you do when you've discovered a new superstar... and she doesn't really exist? That's the delightful premise of Simone, another smart, provocative what-if scenario from writer-director Andrew Niccol (Gattaca), whose script for The Truman Show offered a similarly skewed example of manipulated perceptions. Combining equal parts screwball comedy, Hollywood satire, and technological extrapolation, Simone grapples with the inevitable use of digital "synthespians," existing only as malleable computer code, and "performing" to the whims of the programmer. In this case it's a has-been movie director (Al Pacino, in a terrific comedic role) who inherits the Sim-One technology, secretly using the instantly popular Simone (played by unbilled actress Rachel Roberts with digital enhancements) to replace the "supermodel with a SAG card" (Winona Ryder) who walked off his latest ill-fated picture. Filled with clever ideas and a splendid supporting cast, Simone is occasionally uneven and illogical, but consistently brilliant... and be sure to watch beyond the closing credits! --Jeff Shannon
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