Plot: What’s it about?
Being the 21st century now, we can expect something new and exciting from Hollywood, yes really. It’s only a matter of time before there really will be a star like Simone, I just don’t think we’re quite there as of yet. In what is yet another attack on Hollywood, the movie has some pretty critical messages, in that actors are like children and that if you really want an actor to do the best work, you digitally create one to mold (literally) in your own image. Yes, to call Simone a “Modern Day” All About Eve might be a bit pretentious, but when you start drawing some parallels it’s almost uncanny as to what the movie is really trying to say. So while we’re still in awe of what computers can actually do these days, it might be a bit shocking to see what the future has in store for us. Simone might just be the predecessor of things to come.
However, when we meet Viktor Taransky (Al Pacino), his “A” list movie star (Winona Ryder) has just walked off the set of his latest film. Viktor, a little-known director, has neither the clout or the resources to finish the film with any other star and it’s only a matter of time before Nicola Anders (Ryder) files a law suit. This is when a stranger confronts Viktor in the back lot of the studio. Thinking him to be a crazed fan, he ignores the stranger’s wish to be heard and tells Viktor that he’ll be dead in a week from an inoperable eye tumor. Obviously a week passes and as Viktor is served with the “estate” of Hank (the stranger), he finds that it’s a hard drive. Seeming curious, he plays it on his computer and this is where Simone (Rachel Roberts) enters the picture, quite literally. Nine months pass and the movie is now complete, albeit with Simone in the leading role. Garnering critical and commercial acclaim, Simone is an instant hit with audiences and becomes the country’s newest obsession/sex symbol.
Viktor, not knowing what to make of his newfound “success”, is very secretive of his new star; mainly because she doesn’t exist. He controls her like a puppet and as her next movie is even more popular than its predecessor, Simone’s popularity is even more so. Everyone wants a look at Simone and Viktor even goes as far to use a body double with a trash bag over her head to convince the world that she really does exist (the public believes she does exist, but a reporter and his cohort have other ideas). As with power, it corrupts and it’s only a matter of time before Simone has given rise to what Viktor thinks of as a nightmare. The question is, what will Viktor do to try and get rid of Simone and possibly try to save his relationship with his ex-wife (Catherine Keener), who also happens to be a studio head that produces his movies.
While Simone most likely won’t go down as one of the better movies ever made, it does make you think, both about the current and future state of Hollywood. Are we really that far away from replacing our actors with 1’s and 0’s? I’m sure there are directors out there who wouldn’t mind! The movie sports and all star cast (all of which are actually human, by the way) and I’ll give them credit, it’s original. While it wasn’t the commercial hit it was supposed to be, New Line has given us a pretty fine DVD to boot. Recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Simone is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio that is enhanced for 16:9 televisions. The image has lots of yellow hues to it, something that usually looks good on a TV. It does. There are some parts, though, that seem to be a bit burnt out. The black in Al Pacino’s hair, for example, seems to be a bit overexposed. And while the level of detail is amazing in some scenes, there is a little room for improvement. Don’t get me wrong, the film looks great, but for a rather featureless disc offered up by New Line (who has set a very high standard for their discs), this doesn’t quite measure up to what I was expecting. Still, it’s a fine transfer and viewers should like what they’ll see.
Audio: How does it sound?
Simone benefits from not one, but two 5.1 tracks (make that a 5.1 and a 6.1). The DTS ES 6.1 mix is the one I chose to listen to and though the movie isn’t that big on effects, it does contain a rather robust track that makes full use of all the channels. While the main amount of sound is on the front stage, the surrounds kicked in at key points during the film, thereby giving it a nice sound field to it. The Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track is also great, and I didn’t notice too many differences between the two. No real complaints here, thus showing that not everything in DTS 6.1 will rock your house!
Supplements: What are the extras?
Simone sports a few extras, though when you consider New Line put out the disc, it isn’t much by their standards. First up are a couple of featurettes, “Cyber Stardom” features Simone and how some experts in the film community think that this might eventually translate to the “real thing”. This certainly gives new meaning to the phrase “Art Imitates Life”. Next up is “Simulating Simone”, which tells how they actually made Simone work for the movie. Obviously, a real person was used and I’d have to say that once they start making CGI actors, they look like Simone! Also included are some 19 deleted scenes that can be viewed within the movie itself or by themselves. This feature was used in Lord of the Rings as well (though they couldn’t be viewed individually), and it’s a nice addition. I suppose technically this is the “Director’s Cut” of the film if you want to go there. A teaser and the original theatrical trailer are also included as are some DVD-ROM supplements. Overall Simone impressed me, it’s not as bad as the reviews make it out to be and seeing Al Pacino on screen is always a pleasure. I’d recommend a rental first, but it’s worth a purchase if you’re a fan of the movie.
