S1m0ne (2002)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Andrew Niccol

Writer (WGA):

Andrew Niccol (written by)

Release Date:

23 August 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A star is... created.

Plot:

A producer's film is endangered when his star walks off, so he decides to digitally create an actress to substitute for the star, becoming an overnight sensation that everyone thinks is a real person.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Fraud | False Accusation | Indestructibility | Hotel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Viktor Taransky
Benjamin Salisbury	...	Production Assistant
Winona Ryder	...	Nicola Anders
Darnell Williams	...	Studio Executive #1
Jim Rash	...	Studio Executive #2
Ron Perkins	...	Studio Executive #3
Jay Mohr	...	Hal Sinclair
Catherine Keener	...	Elaine Christian
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Lainey Christian Taransky
Jeffrey Pierce	...	Kent
Jeff Williams	...	Man in Suit
Rachel Roberts	...	Simone (as Simone)
Mitzi Martin	...	Premiere Audience Member
Carole Androsky	...	Premiere Audience Member (as Carol Androsky)
Christopher Neiman	...	Premiere Audience Member

Also Known As:

Simone (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

City Hall - 100 N. Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The name "Nicola Anders" (Winona Ryder), is an obvious reference to writer/director Andrew Niccol.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Elaine and Lainey find the computer and the virus, they restore it. However, Viktor threw the hard disk away.

Quotes:

Simone: I just think all elementary schools should have a firing range. How else will the children learn to defend themselves?

Movie Connections:

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Soundtrack:

Adagio for Strings

It's like a fine wine baby...

I was fortunate enough to see a screening of this film before its wide release date. I must say that the trailers do not do this film justice; it is a very intelligent satire that provides commentary on many things including Hollywood as an industry, the audience as a questionable (flawed) jury, the personal conflicts of greed and guilt, and what it means to "be in control" - all within the context of a very effective comedy. The film has several genuinely funny moments and I left the screening not only with a sense of satisfaction, but with the feeling that this film will only become more relevant with time. Simone is a very well executed film and raises thought-provoking questions (though nothing new) about the industry and the proverbial "human condition" while being funny. I, too, was pleasantly surprised.