S1m0ne (2002)Movies

Movies from Film Forum, 08/22/02Andrew Niccol, the creator of such thoughtful, artful films as Gattaca and The Truman Show, is back with another film about the difference between real and artificial life. In Simone, Al Pacino plays Viktor Taransky, a director who is fed up with spoiled-brat actors and actresses. Thus, he is ecstatic when he inherits the software for a digitally simulated actress called "Simulation One" (or "Simone"), a performer who won't talk back. Unfortunately, Taransky's own ego takes over and his manipulated non-actress becomes merely a dangerous extension of his own personality.Anne Navarro (Catholic News) writes that the film starts strong but slumps into oversimplification and redundancy: "The script … happily mocks actors and their peculiar 'requests,' hinting...