After a famous director has a problem with a tempestuous star, he stumbles upon some computer software which can create virtual movie stars. He uses this technology to create a new actress, Simulation One, hence Simone, and thus finishes his movie. His new ''star'' becomes an overnight sensation, and he is forced to use her in more movies. As time goes by, she becomes the most popular celebrity in the world, eclipsing her creator. It becomes more and more difficult to maintain the illusion, so he decides to kill her off... which has unexpected consequences for him.
Ian Douglas: Andrew Niccol, the writer and director, is the guy behind Gattaca and
The Truman Show. This time around, his movie may be just go over the head of
some people. At the apparent level, it is about how technology might be able to produce computer-animated actors
(see Final Fantasy) to make real movie stars redundant. What it is *really* about,
however, is how the marketing machines from Hollywood and the record industry are able to ''manufacture'' stars who in
some cases are barely more real than a computer-generated one, and make them into huge international successes. The most
telling scene is where Simone, trying to wreck her image, does a ''bad girl'' act live on national television, and the
media and public just lap it up. In their eyes, this angel can do no evil... Overseas reviews have generally slated this
movie, in particular the script, but I think perhaps those reviewers were concentrating too much on the ''obvious'' plot
and not enough on the less-obvious one. The script does indeed have flaws (when *will* Hollywood get a clue about computers
and computer viruses?) and even Pacino seems unsure of his lines at times, like he can't believe he is in this role, but
in general I found the movie worthwhile. And Simone -- a real-life Canadian model -- is real easy on the eye...
