Simone starring Al Pacino and Catherine Keener

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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

aLoveLinksPlus Says: This is a great sharing movie. One that you'll watch and talk about afterwards. Not because of any great philosophical arguments, or action sequences that occur, but because of the opening scenes that involve the spoiled Hollywood actress (actors included here too!) and Al Pacino's grace in dealing with it. How the solution falls into his hands and begins a wonderful story add it's own sense of humor and sculpts for us the fear that directors have as they encounter ordinary people and the paparazzi that feed them. Fame does have it's own mis-fortune!! Definitely a fifth date movie, score it 8 out of 10 for fun.

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