Ditching his cop on the edge persona for a moment, Al Pacino plays a director on the edge - Viktor Taransky, who is danger of losing everything after his demanding leading actress (Ryder) quits his film. His ruthless studio boss and ex wife (Keener) fires him and Taransky's career looks to be over. However, a computer programme which allows him to create a fully functioning digital actress, Simone, gives him an opportunity to get back in the game and finish his movie. Needless to say, Simone becomes a megastar, even if the public are completely unaware that she's not real, which in itself causes Taransky more problems.
A decent idea does not a great film make and Simone is proof. Niccol has the genesis of an interesting film here, but seems far more interested in making glib pronouncements on the nature of fame than really investigating celebrity culturedom, offering any serious insight or most importantly, making a strong and cohesive movie. The performances are as you'd expect, but the inability of the director to really stretch himself or his actors fatally undermines Simone. In truth, it's not bad, but ultimately Simone just feels a little toothless and self-congratulatory, and you really should get a better return on this sort of investment.
