By Guy Wheatley
The Texarkana Gazette
The danger with a slick piece of technology is in letting it take on
a life of its own. That is both the theme of "Simone," and the danger director
Andrew Nicole faces. Nicole has experience with cautionary films about
technology run amuck. He also directed "Gattaca," and wrote the screenplay
for "The Truman Show." As with the other films, "Simone" deals with the
effect technology has on humans.
Nicole views technology as a tool that can be used or misused. The
choice is up to the people wielding it. This view comes though in his directorial
handling of the title piece of technology. This is not another tired, overworked
Frankenstein tale. Simone performs flawlessly. Her user is the one with
problems.
Victor Taransky (Al Pacino) is a director of little note. When the
star of his current film quits, Taransky laments that there was a time
when the studios owned the stars. He hasnít had a hit in some time and
this film is his last shot at staying in the business. Pacino is brilliant
in his potrayal of a man tottering on the brink. His inability to deal
with people has brought him to this point. He feels that the actors are
getting in the way of his art.
We get the impression that his liberal use of liquor and tobacco has
been going on for some time and has only led him deeper into a vicious
cycle of reclusion and failure.
A light at the end of the tunnel comes in the form of Hank Aleno (Elias
Koteas), a computer geek Taransky has met and forgotten at a trade show.
Hank has created a virtual actor named Simone, a contraction of sim one,
or simulation one. Hovering over the computer monitor for the years required
to create Simone has given Hank an incurable cancer. It has already taken
his right eye. The toll Simoneís creation has taken on Hank is a portent
of things to come.
Now, with less than two weeks to live, Hank gives his creation to the
only director he believes can use it effectively. Taransky uses Simone
to finish the film that diva Nicola Anders (Wynona Ryder) walks out on.
The film is a financial success and critics love Simone. Unfortunately
for Taransky, the plot and direction of the movie are lost in the glare
of his new star.
As Taransky pours more of himself into Simone, he retreats further
from real people. He obsesses over the idea that he controlís Simone and
has her constantly belabor the fact that she is just a tool in his hands.
Despite Simoneís lavish praise of her director, Hollywood and the critics
are convinced that Transky is simply riding her coat tails.
Taranskyís wife Elaine, (Catherine Keener) and daughter Lainey (Evan
Rachel Wood) are the only flesh and blood humans to orbit in and out of
Taranskyís life. Taransky still loves Elaine, and continues to make attempts
to reach out to her. Elaine is completely absorbed by her ambition. While
we believe that she may love Taransky in return, she is too occupied with
staying successful to reach back. Victor reminisces about the dreams of
their early days. Elaine says that sheís grown up and lives in a grown
up world. Itís clear that she views Taranskyís quest for art as either
an excuse for his failure, or the cause of it.
This is a cute film easily worth the price of admission. It sacrifices
some of the comedy for a glimpse at the serious side of an important question.
Both "Gattaca" and "The Truman Show" end on a note of human triumph over
technology. Simone is less clear in itís ultimate message. Rather than
give us an answer, possibly Nicole is trying to get us to ask questions.
PG-13
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