Search - Simone on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Adult Language, Adult Humor, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 01/21/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 57 mins Studio: New Line Home Video Total Copies: 80 Genres: Comedy, Showbiz Comedy, Media Satire

Is the time approaching when a persona in its entirety could be a mere fabrication of modern culture and technology? Or did Hollywood enter that time long ago? Either way Viktor Taransky (Al Pacino) finds himself growing more and more aware of the media-obsessed culture in which he tries to earn his living. Taransky is a film director struggling to survive in an industry that doesn't require or want his artistic vision. When first he meets a stranger whose vision is considered somewhat questionable, he doesn't realize the potential of the idea to digitally incorporate a character into his otherwise unsalvageable film. However, in time, not only the director and the entire studio, but American pop culture at large will grow to embrace Simone. As Taransky earns popularity and acclaim via the success of the digitally constructed actress he "discovered," he struggles to define his own identity as an artist and a person, and finds that lying to cover up Simone's non-existence is altering his life entirely. His ex-wife and former employer Elaine (Catherine Keener) notices the difference in his personality, upsetting their daughter Lainey (Evan Rachel Wood) and her hopes of their reconciliation. Meanwhile, stray paparazzi turned private investigators threaten to make public incriminating evidence, which could destroy the limelight Taransky enjoys while "hiding" Simone. Amazingly, what Simone doesn't say or do creates all the more buzz, and causes Taransky to face the reality of his industry. Written and directed by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca), Simone takes a satirical approach to an otherwise fantastical comedy. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide

Al Pacino - Viktor Taransky
Catherine Keener - Elaine Christian
Pruitt Taylor Vince - Max Sayer
Jay Mohr - Hal Sinclair

Andrew Niccol's satire of celebrity and Hollywood, Simone, comes to DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is preferable to the standard full-frame image. Closed-captioned English soundtracks are rendered in DTS ES 6.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, and Dolby Digital Surround. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include deleted scenes that can be accessed from their intended place during the film, a pair of documentaries on the making of the film, and trailers. Those with a DVD-ROM drive can access script-to-screen comparisons, and the Simone website. This is a solid disc from New Line Home Entertainment. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide