Passable lightweight movie fare for the dog days of summer, Simone is a Hollywood parable of sorts about director Viktor Taransky (Al Pacino) and his creation of a fictional mega-superstar (Rachel Roberts), using an extraordinary computer software program. Hitting the career skids after the spoiled, demanding star (Winona Ryder) of his latest picture walks out in the middle of shooting, Viktor takes advantage of a serendipitous opportunity to create Simone. As his mouthpiece, she rises to unfathomable popularity and he to the man of the hour as the only person close to her, literally.

In this wag the dog tale about artificial influences on popular culture from Andrew Niccol, writer of The Truman Show, a similar scenario emerges. The first plausible, totally cyber star, the digitized Simone is possible by the technological breakthrough of a maverick software inventor. In a performance well suited to the intense Viktor, Pacino brings his equally intense persona. As the powerful head of a major studio, Elaine, who is also his ex-wife, the sprightly Christine Keener seems peculiar casting, until it becomes clear this world class hoax is meant to play as a cautionary tale and prompt us to ponder some weightier questions. Does life imitate art or the reverse? What is reality and does anyone really care in our virtual world? More accurately, it's a Hollywood fable examining and poking fun at its favorite subject: itself.

In a visual style that echoes the theme, the Hollywood settings and sound stage sets are dreary, strangely bare, and empty of real people. The special effects that signal Simone's digital arrival whenever summoned by Viktor are effective in imparting a sense of her cool, perfect birth, and rebirth, and rebirth and…. Predictably, it is Viktor and Elaine's sweet, computer nerd teen daughter who begins to find Simone a bit "pixilated."

Not a fair test for the acting capabilities of model Rachel Roberts in her first film role, it's hard to say if the performance is good or if anyone with the careful, artificial look of a fashion model (or a mannequin) could have done the same. She certainly doesn't elicit any emotion from the viewer, but I guess that's the point.

Al Pacino: Viktor Taransky	Catherine Keener: Elaine
Rachel Roberts: Simone	Directed by: Andrew Niccol