SIMONE

US, 2002, 117 minutes, Colour.
Al Pacino, Catherine Keener, Winona Ryder, Jay Mohr, Evan Rachel Wood, Rachel Roberts, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Daniel von Bargen, Elias Koteas.
Directed by Andrew Niccol.

New Zealand-born, Andrew Niccol, had a very successful year in 1998. He directed a stylish futuristic thriller, Gattaca, which explored a totalitarian state and need for a rebel. He also wrote the screenplay for Peter Weir's The Truman Show where Jim Carrey's Truman Burbank had been an unwitting celebrity in his own reality show since he was born. The television producer, played by Ed Harris, 'played God' with Truman's life, controlling his every mood and action in every situation.

It is not a huge step to his screenplay for Simone, which he has also directed. He stays with the world of movies and television and the public's need for celebrity and its craving for entertainment glitz.

Al Pacino portrays a successful television producer who has troubles with his temperamental star (Winona Ryder). But a bequest from a mad scientist enables him to use his theories to create his own digital star (who is played by an actual actress, Rachel Roberts), Simone (S1mOne).

Simone is a construct, as is the movie we watch. We assume all kinds of things in movie-making. We know that computergraphics can reproduce huge armies for Braveheart and a Colisseum full of Roman spectators for Gladiator. But, what is the effect on the audience? So, what if the star exists only in a computer-controlled machine, appearing, lifelife, on a computer-controlled screen. It is fun to watch the stupidities of pragmatic producers like Pacino's wife (Catherine Keener), desperate to meet and be associated with Simone.

Fans swoon at her concerts and would swear that they saw her. She even receives two Oscars.

Niccol has given us an entertaining fantasy and satire about the tensions between our craving for reality and our idolizing of technology.

1. 21st century technology? Virtual reality? Serious themes? Satiric tone?

2. The writer-director and his interests, science fiction, the media? The strong cast?

3. The picture of Hollywood production, directors and producers, volatility, egos, publicity, agents? The studios and filming? Media jobs? Deception?

4. The scientist and his invention, madness, his interest in Victor, his bequest, his death? The information, Victor’s response? His grave?

5. The situation, filming, Victor’s reputation, his wife as producer, his relationship with his daughter? The star and her tantrum, the scenes, firing her? The potential failure for the film? Her later coming back to Victor?

6. Victor’s character, his age, experience, in Hollywood, production, direction, obsessed? Difficulties, falling box office, studio pressures? His relationships?

7. His experience, the gift, working on his computer, the discovery of the possibilities for simulation? His decision to create Simone? The scenes of simulation, her name, the technical aspects, seeing her picture on screen, her movement, characteristics and beauty, her voice, Victor and his manipulation?

8. The idea of making a film with Simone, the other members of the cast, Hal Sinclair and acting with the creation, yet his creating a story, his relationship, pretending that he knew Simone? Victor and his creating the character, her performance, publicity effect?

9. Continuing the pretence, the response of the studio, his forbidding entry into the production studio, the role of the security guard? His wife, her enthusiasm, eagerness to meet Simone? The dangers for Victor? Finishing the film?

10. Max Sayer, his investigations, probes? Wanting an expose? His infatuation with Simone?

11. Victor and his continued pretence, sightings of Simone, setting up the hotel room as if she was there, the visual interviews and his mouthing her words? The continued excuses, the fans and their enthusiasm?

12. His creating a back story for Simone, her seclusion, different appearances, doubles, rumours, the limousines?

13. Hollywood life, gossip about Simone, the magazines, the clips, Victors voice, her physical effects? Her films, the performances, the praise?

14. The Oscar nominations, the ironyies, the Academy affirming a complete construction?

15. Victor, his relationship with his daughter, her questions, ferreting out the truth, the response of his wife?

16. The end, Victor and his achievement, the end of Simone? But not the end of virtual creativity?

17. The effect, the challenge to the media, reality and unreality, virtual reality, the world of the hype?