S1m0ne

“Simone,” released in 2002, is the story of a director near the end of his career, who takes over his friend’s computer program that lets him to create an actress out of a simulation program. She becomes a huge star and the center of the media’s attention, and he’s stuck: The more audiences love her, the less he can tell she is entirely his work. The movie makes a dilemma within a pessimistic comedy about modern Hollywood. It’s sporadically funny but never really takes off. Out of the corners of our eyes we glimpse the missed moments for some real satirical digging.

Al Pacino plays the director, Viktor Taransky, once smart, recently the maker of a line of failures. Only his daughter Lainey, played by Evan Rachel Wood, still believes in him – a little. His former wife, Elaine (Catherine Keener), the boss of the studio, has lost all hope for his career and stops his latest work when the up and down star (Winona Ryder) explodes.

Into the life of the desperate man comes another one, Hank Aleno, played by Elias Koteas, who has made a computer program that creates “synthespians.” Viktor isn’t interested – but then, when the man leaves him the program in his will, he starts playing around with the software and the beautiful, talented and (above all) cooperative Simone is the result. She needs, Viktor rejoices, no hairdresser, makeup, driver, car, trailer, stand-in or stunt woman – no, not even for the fall from the plane. She is always on time, never complains, says the words just as they’re written and has no problem with nudity.

Viktor creates Simone’s performance on a computer that is all alone in the middle of an otherwise empty sound stage. The other actors in the movie are told Simone will be added to their scenes electronically. The premiere of the first movie is a huge success, and obviously paparazzi from the supermarket tabloids follow Viktor in hopes of photographing Simone. No luck.

The movie was written, produced and directed by Andrew Niccol, who wrote “The Truman Show” and wrote and directed “Gattaca,” both films about the border between science and personality. “Simone” is not in the same ballpark. He wants to edge it in the direction of a Hollywood comedy, but the satire is not sharp enough and the characters, including his ex-wife, are too usual.

Also there’s a huge problem: Simone always remains…just Simone. The computer simulation always looks like it will come to life and never does. Roger Ebert stated in his review, “One can imagine software bugs that recklessly import other online personalities into Simone: Matt Drudge, for example, or Harry Knowles, or Danni Ashe. One can imagine Simone suddenly being possessed by Lara Croft, Tomb Raider, and breaking up a serious dramatic scene with video-game violence.” You could imagine… well, almost anything except that she stays a well-behaved simulation. Ebert asks, “When Simone "appears" on a chat show, for example, it's kind of funny that she sticks to well-worn subjects like dolphins and smoking, but why not go the extra mile and put her on the Howard Stern show?” Pacino, an amazing actor, does what he can to bring Viktor to life. But the screenplay’s too thin and prevents him from taking the characters beyond a certain point. Most of the major moments are handled with sitcom effortlessness, and the hungry gossip reporters are presented as they always are, a wolf pack with no humor or originality. Even Keener, as the studio boss, simply plays an ex-wife who is studio boss: There’s no twist, nothing unexpected.

Ebert guesses, “The problem, I think, is that in aiming for too wide an audience, Niccol has made too shallow a picture.”The Truman Show" and "Gattaca" pushed their premises; "Simone" settles for the predictable. The story elements echo the sad experience of the team assembled to make "Final Fantasy," the summer of 2001 sci-fi movie that failed at the box office. That movie was made up entirely of "real" characters generated by computers, including Aki Ross, the heroine, who, all things considered, is a more intriguing woman than Simone (whose appearance is provided by the actress Rachel Roberts). The "Final Fantasy" team labored four years and achieved everything they dreamed of, and were rejected by the public. Much more interesting than a director who has unimaginable success fall into his lap.”

Rachel Roberts is a really hot model, but other than that, if you want to check it out, then you may, but I don’t really recommend it. If I remember correctly, this is the first Pacino movie I saw, and I have to say, it’s ok. Not great, not horrible, just ok. You may not like it, but the best part of the movie is just to see Pacino yell at the computer simulation, even though he is the one putting words into her mouth. It’s still funny to check out though, especially if you want to be a director or actor and want to get a taste of what goes on in the media.

Check in this Wednesday for the next review of “Al Pacino month.”