Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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 |
The career of a disillusioned producer, who is desperate for a hit, is endangered when his star walks off the film set. Forced to think fast, the producer decides to digitally create an actress "Simone" to sub for the star--the first totally believable synthetic actress. The "actress" becomes an overnight sensation, with a major singing career as well, and everyone thinks she's a real person. However, as Simone's fame skyrockets, he cannot bear to admit his fraud to himself or the world. Written by Sujit R. Varma
S1m0ne (SIMONE) is a creative little piece of filmmaking from the young New Zealand writer director Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, The Truman Show, Lord of War, The Host, Dali & I:The Surreal Story). While this may not register in the 'best films of the decade' category, it certainly challenges both our thinking and our imagination and creates a sense of wonder at just how far we have come with computer generation.
Has-been movie director/producer Viktor Taransky (Al Pacino, shining) faces disaster when his star Nicola Anders (Winona Ryder) deserts his latest desperate need for a hit film and comes up with the alternative - create a superstar by using a digital synthespian, a creature who via computer codes is destined to do anything the creator decides. And voila! Simone (or rather S1m0ne - Sim-One, the technology used to creature such ventures.) Viktor is saved as Simone (Rachel Roberts) becomes the superstar of Viktor's dreams - winning awards, and Viktor's heart - only requiring that he ultimately tell the public of his sham, a deed he attempts to avoid through means that place him in big trouble. The story is fantasy, but in Niccol's hands the fantasy becomes possibility and makes us question just how far advanced have we become...perhaps too far.
The strong supporting cast includes, along with Winona Ryder, Catherine Keener, Benjamin Salisbury, Jay Mohr, Evan Rachel Woods, and of course the digitally altered Rachel Roberts. The test of a good comedy is whether it can incorporate tragedy and still entertain. This film succeeds.
Grady Harp