S1m0ne (2002)

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
Jolie Jenkins	...	Premiere Audience Member
Derrex Brady	...	Premiere Audience Member
Lisa Cerasoli	...	Premiere Audience Member
Darin Heames	...	Premiere Audience Member
Patrick J. Dancy	...	Premiere Audience Member (as Patrick Dancy)
Adrian R'Mante	...	Premiere Audience Member
David Doty	...	Theater Owner
Maureen Mueller	...	Entertainment Reporter
Barry Papick	...	Walter, Security Guard
James Gleason	...	Reporter
Andi Carnick	...	Reporter
Richard Saxton	...	Reporter
Vincent Boling	...	Reporter
Mark Thompson	...	Reporter
Keith MacKechnie	...	Reporter
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Max Sayer
Jason Schwartzman	...	Milton
Alan Loayza	...	Valet Manager
Chris Coppola	...	Echo Photographer
Lombardo Boyar	...	Paparazzi Photographer
Jenni Blong	...	Jane
Susan Chuang	...	Lotus
Robert Musgrave	...	Mac
Deborah Rawlings	...	Corel
Christina Rydell	...	Claris
Rod Simmons	...	Hewlett
Hal Ozsan	...	Hotel Concierge
Jaehne Moebius	...	Drunk Woman
Claudia Jordan	...	Simone Lookalike
Henry D. Zapata	...	Studio Executive
Stanley Anderson	...	Frank Brand
Christopher Comes	...	Concert Promoter
Brad 'Chip' Pope	...	Concert Technician #1 (as Chip Pope)
Gordon Simmons	...	Concert Technician #2
Teresa Parente	...	Talk Show Host #1
Bill A. Jones	...	Talk Show Host #2
Daniel Do	...	Monk
Clyde Tull	...	Priest
Moss Mossberg	...	Rabbi
Ronnie W. Elliot Sr.	...	Arresting Officer
Daniel von Bargen	...	Chief Detective
Charles Noland	...	Detective
Chris Marley	...	Diver (as Christopher Marley)
Sean Cullen	...	Bernard, Lawyer
Alec Murdock	...	VBC Anchor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alex Boling	...	Man (uncredited)
Jim Brockhohn	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Tony Crane	...	Lenny (uncredited)
Edward C. Gillow	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Phil Hawn	...	Movie Theater Patron (uncredited)
Diane Hudock	...	Woman (uncredited)
Elias Koteas	...	Hank Alano (uncredited)
Rebecca Romijn	...	Faith (uncredited)
Camille Wainwright	...	Katie Crom (uncredited)
Nancy Young	...	Party Guest #3 (uncredited)

Directed by
Andrew Niccol

Writing credits (WGA)
Andrew Niccol		(written by)

Produced by
Bradley Cramp	....	executive producer
Michael De Luca	....	executive producer
Lynn Harris	....	executive producer
Daniel Lupi	....	co-producer
Andrew Niccol	....	producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Edward Lachman

Film Editing by
Paul Rubell

Casting by
Francine Maisler
Jon Scott Strotheide		(as Jon Stroheide)

Production Design by
Jan Roelfs

Art Direction by
Sarah Knowles

Set Decoration by
Leslie A. Pope		(as Leslie Pope)

Costume Design by
Elisabetta Beraldo

Makeup Department
Carrie Angland	....	key makeup artist
Kathy Childes	....	hair stylist
Cydney Cornell	....	hair department head
Jane English	....	additional makeup artist
Kathleen Freeman	....	makeup artist (as Kathleen Freeman-Smith)
Lori Guidroz	....	hair stylist
Dee Mansano	....	makeup artist
Medusah	....	hair stylist: Ms. Keener
Vickie Mynes	....	hair stylist (as Vicki Mynes)
Valli O'Reilly	....	makeup department head
Elaina P. Schulman	....	hair stylist (as Elaina Schulman)
Rita Troy	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Daniel P. Collins	....	unit manager (as Dan Collins)
Carla Fry	....	executive in charge of production
Daniel Lupi	....	unit production manager
Eileen Malyszko Lee	....	production supervisor
Bonnie Weis	....	production supervisor: pre-production only (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rosemary C. Cremona	....	second assistant director
Maria Mantia	....	second second assistant director
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	first assistant director (as Nicholas C. Mastandrea)
Ruby Stillwater	....	second assistant director: additional photography

Art Department
Russell R. Anderson	....	lead man (as Russ Anderson)
Robert Bleckman	....	assistant property master
Jo Brown	....	on-set painter
John Campana	....	art department assistant
Martin Charles	....	graphic designer
Brad Curry	....	draper
Brad Curry	....	set dresser
Claudette Didul	....	additional set decorator (as Claudette Didul Mann)
Michael R. Gannon	....	assistant property master
Rob Garlow	....	general foreman (as Rod Garlow)
Stephanie Higgins Frey	....	art department coordinator
Tom Hrupcho	....	paint foreman
Lee J. Jashinsky	....	painter
Daniel R. Jennings	....	assistant art director
Tyler Kettenburg	....	set dresser
P.K. MacCarthy	....	storyboard artist (as Kevin MacCarthy)
Melissa Mollo	....	assistant graphic designer
Joe Ondrejko	....	construction coordinator
William A. Petrotta	....	property master (as Bill Petrotta)
Erik Polczwartek	....	set dresser
Victoria Ruskin	....	set designer (as G. Victoria Ruskin)
Adam Tankell	....	assistant graphic designer
Randall D. Wilkins	....	lead set designer (as Randall Wilkins)
Gary Tuers	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ron Bartlett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andrew Bock	....	second assistant sound editor
David Buell	....	adr recordist
John Glaeser	....	sound utility
Eric Gotthelf	....	adr mixer
Allan Hartz	....	adr supervisor (as Allen Hartz)
Richard King	....	sound designer
Richard King	....	sound editor
Richard King	....	supervising sound editor
Patricio A. Libenson	....	supervising foley editor (as Patricio Libenson)
Michael Magill	....	dialogue editor
Jeremy Peirson	....	sound recordist
Eric Potter	....	sound effects recordist
John Pritchett	....	production sound mixer
David M. Roberts	....	boom operator (as David Roberts)
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist
Hugo Weng	....	dialogue editor
Linda Yeaney	....	first assistant sound editor
Flavio Leocata	....	assistant foley editor (uncredited)
Michael W. Mitchell	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
François-Xavier Aubague	....	visual artist
Laurent Makowski	....	special effects
Chris Nelson	....	special effects technician
Brandon Trost	....	special effects assistant
Ron Trost	....	special effects coordinator
Tom Chesney	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Steve Ansell	....	visual effects editor
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor
Brooke Biagi	....	visual effects coordinator: Black Box
Steve Caldwell	....	digital compositor
Stephane Ceretti	....	digital artist: BUF Compagnie
Sean C. Cunningham	....	digital artist: Gray Matter Effects
C. Marie Davis	....	visual effects executive producer: CIS Hollywood
Valerie Delahaye	....	visual effects producer: BUF Compagnie
Kent Demaine	....	visual effects supervisor
Mark Dornfeld	....	visual effects supervisor: Custom Film Effects
Crystal Dowd	....	visual effects producer
Andrew M. Harvey	....	visual effects coordinator (as Andrew Harvey)
Marjorie Hebrard	....	visual effects production: BUF Compagnie
Edward Helmers	....	digital compositor: Custom Film Effects
Amy Hollywood Wixson	....	visual effects producer: Gray Matter
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor: Custom Film Effects
Kenneth Jones	....	visual effects supervisor: CIS Hollywood (as Dr. Ken Jones)
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
Margaux Mackay	....	visual effects supervising producer: Gray Matter
Michael Maloney	....	digital compositor: Gray Matter FX
Richard Malzahn	....	visual effects supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Gray Marshall	....	visual effects supervisor: Gray Matter
Stephane Naze	....	digital artist: BUF Compagnie
Luke Ployhar	....	visual effects
Laurie Powers	....	digital supervisor: Custom Film Effects
Fabienne Reilly	....	visual effects coordinator: Buf Compagnie
Lauren Ritchie	....	executive in charge of visual effects
Will Robbins	....	visual effects supervisor (as William Robbins)
Susan Shin George	....	producer: visual effects, Custom Film Effects
Philip Sisk	....	digital compositor
Ricardo Torres	....	lead flame artist: Black Box
Ariel Velasco-Shaw	....	consulting visual effects supervisor (as Ariel Velasco Shaw)
Dominique Vidal	....	digital artist: BUF Compagnie
Bryan Whitaker	....	3D animator: Gray Matter FX
Jamie Baxter	....	lead artist: Digital Firepower (uncredited)
Yann Blondel	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Pierre Buffin	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Charles Darby	....	visual effects supervisor: Digital Firepower (uncredited)
Christopher Grandel	....	trailer digital effects, Howard Anderson Company (uncredited)
Michael Kowalski	....	visual effects production manager (uncredited)

Stunts
Alisa Christensen	....	utility stunts
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Elaine Curtis	....	stunts
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunts
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Alisa Hensley	....	stunt performer
Paul Lane	....	stunts
Paul M. Lane	....	stunt double
Shawn Lane	....	stunts
Mimi Lesseos	....	stunt performer
Monica Staggs	....	stunt double: Rachel Roberts
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt performer
April Weeden-Washington	....	utility stunts
Webster Whinery	....	stunt coordinator
Stuart F. Wilson	....	stunts
Scott Workman	....	stunts
Nancy Young	....	stunts
Kevin Beard	....	precision driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alfred Ainsworth	....	video playback operator
James W. Apted	....	second assistant camera (as James Apted)
Dana Baker	....	dolly grip
Kent Baker	....	key rigging grip
Erik Bernstein	....	electrician: re-shoot
Kevin Brown	....	electrician
Russell Caldwell	....	chief lighting technician (as Russ Caldwell)
Glenn Cannon	....	playback operator
Philippe Carr-Forster	....	camera operator (as Phillip Carr-Forster)
Stacy De La Motte	....	camera loader
Frank Endewardt	....	electrician (as Frank Endwardt)
Michael Grady	....	best boy rigging grip
Derek Grover	....	director of photography: additional photography
Rick Harris	....	best boy grip
Richard Hartley	....	rigging gaffer
Mitchell K. Hiniker	....	grip
Michael J. Hogan	....	video assist operator
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Wilfried Jeanblanc	....	video operator
Al LaVerde	....	key grip
Darren Michaels	....	unit still photographer
Daisuke Dice Miyake	....	company grip (as Daisuke 'Dice' Miyake)
John Owens	....	best boy
Sean Smith	....	electrician
Heather Page	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Cynthia Pusheck	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Alan M. Rowe	....	light programmer: Whole Hog II (uncredited)
Steven J. Winslow	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting coordinator
Kathy Driscoll	....	casting associate (as Kathleen Driscoll-Mohler)
Peter Kalin	....	casting assistant, credited
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	voice casting (as Caitlin McKenna)
Amy Pope	....	extras casting associate (as Amy Bollin)
Christian Heaton	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Steve Constancio	....	set costumer
Linda S. Cormany	....	key costumer (as Linda Cormany)
Laurel Frushour	....	costumer
Patrick Guzzo	....	costumer
Susan Kowarsh	....	assistant costume designer
Tom Macdonald	....	set costumer
Robert Q. Mathews	....	costume supervisor (as Bob Mathews)
Michele Michel	....	assistant costume designer
Guy Miracle	....	costumer
Ciara Duncan	....	costume production assistant (uncredited)
Ric Spencer	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Ken Blackwell	....	additional editor
Darren Block	....	assistant editor
Jody Levin	....	executive in charge of post-production
Darin Read	....	post-production coordinator
Dana Ross	....	color timer
Yôko Seto	....	first assistant editor (as Yoko Seto)
Jayson Wall	....	post-production assistant
Rob Kalmbach	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Royce Smith	....	film color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul Broucek	....	music executive
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Michael Farrow	....	music mixer
Tony Finno	....	music preparation
Gordon Gottlieb	....	musician
Michael Hinton	....	musician
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
Bryan Lawson	....	assistant music editor
Sandra Park	....	music contractor
Joe Passaro	....	musician
Dana Sano	....	music consultant
Erin Scully	....	music executive
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor
Tom Kramer	....	preview music editor (uncredited)
John Moses	....	musician: clarinetist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bruce Callahan	....	driver
Joe Cosentino	....	transportation captain
Joshua Hancock	....	picture car coordinator (as Josh Hancock)
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Steve Larson	....	transportation dispatcher
John Pellegrino	....	driver
Adam Pinkstaff	....	co-transportation captain
Anthony J. Mignano	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Nellie Adami	....	production coordinator
Guy Adan	....	unit publicist
Nancy Arsenault	....	stand-in: Catherine Keener
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Jessica Biggins	....	production office assistant (as Jessy Biggins)
Luca Borghese	....	production office assistant
Chris Castaldi	....	set production assistant
Dorian Cirillo-Murray	....	additional production assistant
Jennifer Clark	....	second assistant accountant
Jason Cox	....	production assistant
Lou Crisa	....	personal assistant: Mr. Pacino
Kim Crockett	....	key set production assistant
Demelza Cronin	....	assistant production coordinator
Jacopo De Bertoldi	....	set production assistant
John W. DeBlau	....	visual consultant (as John De Blau)
Leon Dudevoir	....	production executive
Howie Edelson	....	production office assistant
Erik Ellner	....	production attorney
Lorin Flemming	....	chef
Wilma Garscadden-Gahret	....	script supervisor
Giancarlo Giannini	....	voice dubbing: Al Pacino
Steven Gorel	....	office intern
Derek Grover	....	high definition video technician
Trent Hara	....	assistant production secretary
Allison Harvey	....	production assistant
Justin Healy	....	assistant location manager
Rick Hicks	....	marine coordinator
Tim Hillman	....	location manager (as Timothy Hillman)
Tim Judge	....	executive assistant: Mr. Pacino
Rowland Kirks	....	additional location manager
April Krueger	....	production assistant
Harlem Logan	....	set production assistant
Cathy Marshall	....	payroll accountant
Douglas C. Merrifield	....	marine coordinator
Chantay Nieber	....	stand-in: "Lainey"
Ed Nyerick	....	boat captain
Robert Paulsen	....	production secretary
Paul Prokop	....	production controller
Michael Riley	....	title designer
Larry Ring	....	assistant location manager
Nancy Safran	....	assistant: Francine Maisler
Chanel Salzer	....	assistant location manager
Honore Sato	....	studio teacher
Charlie Scott	....	craft service (as Charles Scott)
Laura Sevier	....	clearance
Daniel J. Simmons	....	production assistant
Laura D. Smith	....	production assistant: Niccol Films
Kelly Snyder	....	production accountant
Dorion Thomas	....	production office assistant (as Dorian Thomas)
Jodi Tripi	....	clearance coordinator
Jim Vidal	....	assistant: Andrew Niccol
Will Weiske	....	special projects supervisor
Vanna Bonta	....	adr voice: SimOne Kiss and actress on phone (uncredited)
Jamie Feldman	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
Braden Friedman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Karyn Gatt	....	assistant: Ms. Ryder (uncredited)
Albert Leon	....	staff assistant: Al Pacino (uncredited)
Dave Mallow	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Michael G. Maurer	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Troy Waters	....	marine crew (uncredited)
J. Wilfrid White	....	marine crew (uncredited)

Thanks
Scott Alexander	....	special thanks
Lauren Bacall	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Mary J. Blige	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Ernest Borgnine	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Marlene Dietrich	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Claire Forlani	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Greta Garbo	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Sacha Gervasi	....	special thanks
Rita Hayworth	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Audrey Hepburn	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Katharine Hepburn	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Larry Karaszewski	....	special thanks
Grace Kelly	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Veronica Lake	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Sophia Loren	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Jayne Mansfield	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Marilyn Monroe	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Rachel Roberts	....	Simone wishes to thank the following for their contribution to the making of Simone
Robert Zemeckis	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Niccol Films

Distributors

• RCV Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinergia
• Distribution Company (Argentina)
• Entertainment Film Distributors
• GAGA
• Humax Pictures
• Karo Premiere (Russia)
• New Line Cinema
• New Line Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Nexo
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (video)

Special Effects

• BUF (animation)
• Black Box Digital (visual effects)
• CIS Hollywood (special visual effects)
• Custom Film Effects (visual effects)
• Digital Firepower (matte paintings and compositing)
• Gray Matter FX (visual effects)
• Perpetual Motion Pictures (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Imaginary Forces  titles
• Pacific Title  titles: Frank Brand
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

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:

Rachel Roberts was given the name Anna Green. The name comes from the process it took to create Simone which is called anthropomorphic green screen.

Goofs:

Continuity: While Viktor is conducting talk show "Good morning, good day" with Simone, different items (ashtray, a bottle of beer, a glass, a pen) appear and disappear on the table on his right between shots.

Quotes:

Viktor: You know, it's easier to fool a hundred thousand people than just one.

Movie Connections:

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Soundtrack:

Requiem - Pie Jesu

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "Showbiz people are so phony"

By Greg Ursic

Many people bemoan the loss of the Hollywood mystique, when contract actors were essentially owned by the studios and lived glamorous, carefully tailored lives, and were surrounded by an air of mystery. The public however is just as much to blame for this - our insatiable need to know everything - how much the stars earn, who they're dating, what they're addicted to ... - has left them then without any semblance of privacy. It's amazing that today's superstars don't immolate under the spotlight's glare. While the days of discovering the next screen legend in ice cream parlours may be over, they may soon be created over a banana split...

For Viktor Taransky bad things do indeed come in threes, in his case, movies: a former Oscar nominated director, his last three films have been box office dogs. His comeback attempt is apparently dashed when the star ("A supermodel with a SAG card") of his latest film walks out on him citing creative differences. Replacing her seems impossible - as an agent eloquently notes "[For my client] having no credits is better than having a Taransky credit." He also learns that rock bottom can always be adjusted when the studio chief - who also happens to be his ex-wife - lets him know that he's being fired. Distraught and demoralized, Viktor's salvation appears in the guise a seemingly deranged genius who offers him the ultimate software for the director who can't find a star - who says you can't make em like you used to?

For those accustomed to Al Pacino's typical cast of characters -serious, dark and brooding, with an intensity level that never drops below 10, Viktor Taranksy is a refreshing change. As the real (read: flesh and blood) star of the film, Viktor is a man with a quandary - a director with integrity and vision, who actually sees beyond the box office, he must perpetrate a hoax, to get his film made and salvage his career. Pacino is appropriately low key and morose- even when Viktor should be bathing in the glow of success there is a palpable manic undercurrent and sense of foreboding. The supporting cast is a mixed blessing.

Catherine Keener, who plays Elaine, Viktor's ex-wife (her second role as a Hollywood executive in as many months), has suprisingly little presence in the film - her dialogue is light and her character is relatively inconsequential. I can only assume that this was done so as not to detract from the other adult female lead (see below). Evan Rachel Wood, delivers a solid performance as the daughter, supplying maturity and offering sage advice to her self-involved immature parents. Of course the real star is Simone.

As a synthespian, (or as the designer of S1MøNE software notes "The pc term is "vactor") Simone is happy with every script she receives, never complains about her perks and will never age - a director's dream. Though sultry and seductive, she projects a soothing screen presence, and you feel the symbiosis between her and Viktor. It wasn't until the credits started rolling that I realized Simone really was a computer generated image (this is confirmed by both the press kit and everything I've been able to find on the internet) and is a composite of Hollywood leading ladies from the past (drawn from the "Legends Library").

Although marketed as a comedy, "Simone" highlights the growing impact of technology on how we perceive reality. While moviegoers have come to expect special effects in their films, most don't realize the extent to which they are actually utilized - it is not uncommon for actors to be made thinner, or taller, with the click of a mouse. Several films have already employed synthespians to perform difficult stunts and last year's Final Fantasy showed how far the technology had come (bankrupting a movie company in the process). Simone demonstrates that actors themselves may soon be in jeopardy. Of course there are other issues lurking in the background: will we be faced with the spectre of Jimmy Stewart in Scary Movie 6 or Grace Kelly hawking feminine hygiene products? More disturbing is the possibility that in the near future the news reports we're watching could be wholly fictional and we would have no way of knowing? But that's more than enough paranoia for one review.

The first half of Simone is both fun and engaging as the public's thirst for knowledge about Simone grows: co-stars brag about partying with her, people say that she speaks to something in them because she is so real (irony at its best), and Simone reaches virtual demigoddess status. Unfortunately, the manic pace and almost giddy feel of the film begins to wane in the second half, meandering between different plot elements, and winding up in a too perfect conclusion.

Go for the matinee and stay for the popcorn.