Directed by Andrew Niccol

Written by Andrew Niccol

Al Pacino .... Viktor Taransky
Catherine Keener .... Elaine Christian
Evan Rachel Wood .... Lainey
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Rachel Roberts .... Simone
Jay Mohr .... Hal Sinclair
Tony Crane .... Lenny
Jason Schwartzman
rest of cast listed alphabetically
Stanley Anderson
Derrex Brady
Susan Chuang .... Lotus

Produced by
Bradley Cramp .... executive producer
Danny DeVito .... executive producer: Jersey Films
Daniel Lupi .... co-producer
Andrew Niccol .... producer
Michael Shamberg .... executive producer: Jersey Films
Stacey Sher .... executive producer: Jersey Films

Original music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by Derek Grover and Edward Lachman

Film Editing by Paul Rubell

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some sensuality.
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM, and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG

Simone
Carter Burwell

1. Procuro Olvidarte
2. O Amanhã
3. Todo Por Amor (Tudo Por Amor)
4. Fruta Dulce

A contemporary satire of Hollywood, Simone is the story of a disillusioned director, played by Al Pacino, who creates the first totally believable synthetic actress. However, swept up by her instant success, including a major singing career, the producer cannot bear to admit his fraud to the world or himself. The film also stars Catherine Keener, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Jason Schwartzman and Jay Mohr. And introducing Simone as herself. Written, directed and produced by Academy Award nominated screenwriter Andrew Niccol (writer/director of Gattaca, and writer/producer of The Truman Show).

In Hollywood, the land of illusion, never have those words rung so true? until S1M0NE. She is the ultimate director's fantasy. Unlike her flesh and blood colleagues, she won't get old, won't gain an ounce. She won't get drunk, will never need rehab. She doesn't have an agent, manager, entourage or religious guru. She won't demand a bigger trailer or a private jet. She does all of her own stunts. She doesn't need a body double. She has no problem with nudity - clothes are simply an option. She's programmed to love any script she's offered. She's not interested in money. The only power she craves comes from an electrical outlet. Meet S1M0NE.

PERSECPTIONS OF REALITY
In this day and age of computer-generated images, photo enhancement and virtual reality, the line between reality and illusion has been blurred. So-called photographic evidence is no longer compelling. We question it more than we ever did. “If it is on television, it must be true” –not! Is “reality television” really reality? We have entered an age when we can manufacture what is perceived of as reality. This film opens very necessary and interesting discussion. (View Quick Time clip of reality vs. illusion)

SELF CENTERED ACTORS
It has been noted that Simone is an indictment against the Hollywood system. It lampoons self-centered and self-serving movie stars. The film offers a very humorous, yet also tragic, look into the entertainment industry.

GOD-LIKE CHARACTER
More than this, I think it questions the concept of religious belief. I noticed that several reviewers made comparisons between Viktor Taransky and God. Indeed, Taransky is a god-like creator. There's even a line in the movie where he says that he breathed life into Simone, a conscious reflection of the biblical image of God breathing the breath of life into humanity. Viktor Taransky creates a whole universe of the illusion and is the master-god over it, much like the Christof character in the Truman Show. (View Quick Time Clip of Taransky as Creator)

JESUS SLAM?
Film critics seem to be blind to more obvious religious similarities in this film. There are some obvious connections to Christian themes. One could view this film as a slam against the Christian message of a literal Jesus Christ being resurrected from the grave. Christianity rests on the real and historical event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Without this actual historic event there can be no Christianity.

DEATH AND BURIAL
In one scene, Viktor places all of the computer drives containing the digital Simone into a trunk and then submerges it in deep in the ocean. This is symbolic of a burial. Several (3?) days later, the trunk is brought up from the ocean depths and is found to be empty, no body/hard drives. The similarity to the Jesus story is obvious to me. But is it a slam? Or, is it a statement about the nature of faith?

THE EMPTY TOMB
There is a parallel scene to this, in which thousands mourn the death of Simone while Viktor stages her burial on international television. The coffin is open and Simone is not there. Again we see the reflection of the empty "tomb."

RESURRECTION
Suddenly the story takes an interesting turn as Simone is witnessed to be alive on national television. Simone has a resurrection --an illusion created by her disciples. The masses want to believe and do. In actuality Simone never existed, never died, was never really buried, and her resurrection was only an illusion.

IS JESUS AN ILLUSION?
Are the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ an illusion as well? Is the writer director of Simone making a statement about how thousands can believe in something that just simply isn't true? Or does he have something else in mind? For example: Is Niccol calling attention to the power of the Jesus story and the huge impact it has had on pop culture? In other words, is he making a positive statement about the historical Jesus? In any event, he is making reference to "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and creates a Christ-like Simone.

Note: I thought the titles of the Viktor Taransky films were singnificant because they seem to make religious statements:
1. Stay God Amalgamated Films (fictional studio)
2. Eternity Forever Simone's movie Eternity Forever
3. I Am A Pig Simone's movie I Am Pig

NICCOL'S FILMS ENJOYABLE
I have always enjoyed the films of Andrew Niccol. Although this picture opened to a less than enthusiastic crowd, I think it is a wonderfully made film that asks some very important questions about faith, reality, and illusion. How can you be sure of your faith?

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