Simone aka S1m0ne
Matinee
I was surprised at how pleased I was with this film. I had heard bad things about it, and I tend to eschew Al Pacino films as a rule. I am glad I bothered. If you really sit back and let it happen, and watch for all the details, there are some really interesting and self-reflexive moments to be had watching this film. And, for my long-time readers, a significant comment: Al Pacino was the most watchable that I have ever seen him. Except for Insomnia. That alone may have biased me somewhat, that or my love for Catherine Keener.
If you are not aware of the premise of the film, it is simply that Al Pacino has a CG actress that he totally controls and the world loves, and sure enough, problems arise from such a relationship with truth. It's a very interesting idea. Anyway, like many before him back to Pygmalion, the creator can only control what is not real to the creation, or to rest of the world. My companion very intelligently pointed out (I hate when they beat me to brilliance) that she as an icon (nyuk nyuk) is a combination of Pygmalion and Narcissus - how apt.
I have been stymied by this review for some time, so I hope you will forgive me. A notable quote from the film, surely the one scrawled on a napkin that started the ball rolling: "Our ability to manufacture fraud now exceeds our ability to perceive it." Sage words, considering the staggering advances made in CG effects in Hollywood, not to mention the smoke and mirrors show in Washington, but that is another tale. It is also true, to a degree, that audiences will suspend their disbelief higher than even they will admit. We blind ourselves to some of the artifice in films so we can enjoy them more. Who actually thinks those stunts are not done with a million wires and safety backups? But in the moment, we see our hero plummet off the precipice and we suck in air - for the story, we want to believe. This extends off the silver screen as well - we want to believe (some of us) that Tom and Nicole will get back together, or that at least they had an amicable divorce, even if in our heart of hearts we think differently. We want to buy the story, because it's easier or better than the likely truth.
With Simone, of course, it never occurs to anyone that she is manufactured - and indeed, any suspicions about her solitude tend towards the more mundane, less fantastic - who would believe that a million people saw her "live" but did not see her? Hollywood loves to perpetuate its own lies - soon enough people are lying about their relationship to her to the very person who knows it is impossible - and the whole façade comes tumbling down. It's not an original thought to have about Hollywood, but it is an original presentation.
Despite being an amusing commentary on celebrity worship and lies lies lies yeah, the movie hurtles along intractably, obstacle-free, until Pacino's character finally changes. Meta-morphosis indeed. Music is by one of my favorites, Carter Burwell, but I am sad to mention I did not notice it. It's interesting, not insulting, and visually clever. The art department made some subtle choices (prop cameras, every non-principal vehicle is either a black Porsche or a black Land Rover) and the soundtrack to Simone's first film is lovely, I love it!
Interestingly, the virtual (ha ha) unknown actress credited as playing Simone is listed in the credits "as herself." A cursory glance at the IMDB and Yahoo movies reveals a number of films credited to someone named only Simone, notably some foreign and porn-sounding titles, and 1980's slashtrash Cemetery High and Assault of the Killer Bimbos. Who knows? Maybe this actress, to keep the illusion of the story, had a contractual agreement to remain anonymous, fictional, to keep the fiction possible. Whatever the reason, I like the continuation of the illusion. It's the small things about this movie that make me respect it.
Lastly, S1m0ne (as it is listed on Yahoo) is written, produced, and directed by Andrew Niccol, who also happened to direct and write two of my pet underrated films: Gattaca and The Truman Show. Those films, as well as Simone, have a slow, delicate pacing and deliberate but not bonk-on-the-head message, elegantly delivered. I have to say, maybe his work is not for everyone, but it deserves a look.
-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These reviews (c) 2002 Karina Montgomery. Please feel free to forward but just credit the reviewer in the text. Thanks. reviews@cinerina.com Check out previous reviews at: http://www.cinerina.com http://ofcs.rottentomatoes.com - the Online Film Critics Society http://www.hsbr.net/reviews/karina/ - Hollywood Stock Exchange Brokerage Resource http://www.mediamotions.com and http://www.capitol-city.com
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