Al Pacino has been one of my favorites. This is one of those funny drama movies you would enjoy due to his presence. And I recommend it for the DVD Home video circuit. The movie is well made and the photography in certain scenes stands out.
The movie begins in the life of a harassed director Viktor Taransky who has to pander to the tantrums of his star actress (Nicola Anders). The movie begins with her demanding to know why the caravan trailer of the hero is taller than hers. He trying to pamper her informs her that both the trailers are the same except that the air in the vehicle’s tires is more. So he removes the air from the tyre. But she’s not interested. She actually wants the bigger role in the movie he is making. This gets Viktor’s goat. The guy just slams her into the car and tells her driver ’’to hell, please’’ That’s typical of Al Pacino..
The next few scenes shift between the producer (His ex wife and daughter in the movie- Catherine and Evan rachel) and her daughter. He tries to explain that he would need more time and a new star since the movie cannot be completed. And the producer tries to explain to him that if he takes a double and completes the movie, the star Nicola would sue them.
Just as Viktor gives up hope, he comes across a friend, Hank he met in the Cannes film festival. Now Hank has come to give him a software called Simulator One through which he can can create virtual actors and complete any movie without a star. But Viktor thinks him to be a madman and shrugs him away. A few months later a lawyer comes to him and states that Hank is dead and has willed him the hard disk containing the software.
Viktor starts experimenting and realises that he can indeed complete the movie without a heroine. He names his heroine SimOne (Short for the Simulator One software) and completes the movie to rare reviews. The audience do not know that Simone is virtual. They think she is for real. She becomes an instant hit. But the press always on the lookout for celebrities are unable to digest the fact that Simone is not present at any celebrity function. They try all sorts of tricks to track her. The incident where they try to track her by tapping his mobile is good. Inspite of all this, Viktor goes ahead and completes his second movie.
By now every Tom, Dick and Harry of reporters are behind Viktor like bloodhounds to track Simone. They want interviews. Forced to do so, he does the inevitable. He gives online telecasts from a remote location, makes her a pop star and puts her into public life...
I am sorry, but you would have to watch the rest of the movie. How the star Nicola comes back to him, why he is framed for the murder of Simone, the way his daughter rescues him, and eventually his ’’marriage’’ to the virtual Simone. The movie keeps you pleasant and light hearted. The laughs might definitely be less, but it is definitely a feel good movie. You would love to watch it again.