Gattaca
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Movie Reviews of Gattaca
Movie Review: keep an eye on Andrew Niccol
Summary: 5 Stars
In the not too distant future, a young man, Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), dreams of escaping from Earth and rocketing into outer space. But Vincent is genetically flawed--he's got a bum heart and a life expectancy of just 30 years--in a world where such human frailty is no longer the norm and no one's about to waste precious resources on an astronaut with less than an optimal genetic profile. In order to get around his all too human limitations, Vincent swaps genetic profiles with Jerome Morrow, (Jude Law), a genetically-designed and nearly perfect young man, embittered by the accident that left him wheelchair bound. The achievement of bio-engineered superiority for some has naturally created a bifurcated society, with the elite gripped by paranoia about inferior "degenerates" trying to pass themselves off, so Vincent's deception requires him to sneak Jerome's urine into sample cups, to wear false fingertips with Jerome's blood for identification pinpricks, even to salt his workstation with Jerome's hair and skin flakes. Even with all that he still has to deal with the suspicions of an arrogant launch Director (Gore Vidal), a watchful staff physician, and a beautiful fellow trainee (Uma Thurman). The situation becomes even more fraught with danger when a murder occurs at Gattaca and two cops begin to haunt the place.
All of this works well enough as a mere sci-fi thriller but writer/director Andrew Niccol, who also wrote The Truman Show, is after far bigger fish. What he gives us here is a timely and thought-provoking argument against the idea that genetics is destiny. Just as he showed Truman's seemingly perfect world to be anti-human, he shows here that the utopian quest for physical "perfection", because it can not account for the human soul, must result in a dystopic nightmare. A few of the really fine touches here are the set designs which are cold and sterile; the general absence of women, who will be selected out in a world where fathers can always choose to have sons; Vincent's birth scene, when his own father, realizing him to be an "unsatisfactory" heir, decides not to name the boy for himself; and what is, I think, the best scene in the film, when the genetically perfect Jerome reveals that he envies Vincent's natural birthright, the unengineered will that drives him.
This is a profound film. It sounds a too seldom heard cautionary note about the limitations of science, even as it celebrates the limitless human spirit. At one point the Director says : "No one exceeds their potential. If they do it just means we didn't judge it accurately in the first place." This notion, that human potential is a physical quality, to be quantified, measured and judged, is the all too likely and frighteningly imminent horror that resides at the core of this vile future world. Mr. Niccol is a polemicist of a very rare sort, for he manages to entertain even as he delivers his jeremiads. That's quite a feat. It makes him one of the most exciting and visionary talents to come along in Hollywood in some time.
GRADE : A
Movie Review: Stylish, thought-provoking and moving
Summary: 5 Stars
"Gattaca" may well be the sci-fi movie with the most gorgeous art direction yet made. Make sure you see it in a wide-screen version. The expansive, minimalist, vaguely art deco settings glow golden in a kind of persistent late afternoon light. The perfect hairdos, impeccable suits and beautiful people blend perfectly into the shiny surroundings, as does Uma Thurman's peculiarly expressionless face. There are no lame attempts at futurism or obligatory CG effects to draw attention away from the story - a story that has an unabashedly philosophical portent, much like "1984" or "Brave new world".
Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, like any company of note in this "not too distant future", is a workplace that employs only genetically perfect people. In fact, social life in its entirety is governed by genetics - if a girl wants to check whether her boyfriend is suitable marriage material, she merely has to take one of his hairs to a counter, where she is soon provided with a complete print of his genetic code.
All the worse for Vincent (Ethan Hawke), who was born of parents who, romantically, wanted a naturally conceived rather than a genetically engineered baby. So he is born an "in-valid", with flawed genes, and finds the way to his dream, becoming a space traveller, blocked before he has even started on it. Yet, out in the sea on one of his swimming contests against his genetically superior brother, he finds that he is not necessarily the loser every time. So he decides to pursue his dream against all odds. Through will power, stamina, and the help of a shadowy middle man who makes a living supplying in-valids with a valid identity, Vincent gets where he wants to be, and where we find him at the beginning of the movie. He borrows the identity of a crippled swimmer, played by Jude Law. Their mutual dependency results in surprising insights for both, and some tensions as well; - especially when, in the wake of a murder case, Vincent finds his true identity on the verge of being revealed. At the same time, falling in love with his co-worker Irene (Thurman), he has a hard time matching up the required sincerity with his fake identity.
These plotlines are developed quietly, unhurriedly and without any sensationalism. No matter how detached the tone of the movie is, you find yourself touched by the characters, who each in their own way are sympathetic, some of them surprisingly so. The acting of the three leads is excellent and thoroughly believable. The wonderful, haunting score by Michael Nyman further hightens the impact of what is ultimately a very moving film, that surely deserves wider fame than it currently enjoys. This and "Contact" are as yet the only two must-see sci-fi movies I've come across.
Movie Review: Discrimination has now become a science...
Summary: 5 Stars
Eugenics as a form of social control by governments over its subjects is a very real issue. The formation of a so-called `perfect' human being by way of genetic manipulation is a current science that is developing at such a rate that the ethical issues the subject raises, and the productive dialogue required when artificially controlling life, is falling way behind. In Aldous Huxley's `Brave New World Revisited', he explores a society where genetics is used to create the perfect society, and the ethical and social implications of such a world. He does not paint a positive picture. As the main character, Vincent, in this film proclaims, "Discrimination has now become a science." One's social status in society is solely determined by the perfections or imperfections of their genetic make-up. What does society do with its genetic imperfections? In the film, the lower end of the gene pool is relegated to menial jobs and the streets. Those without imperfections, the biological determined `elite', are placed in the prestigious and important jobs and enjoy all the benefits. More than anything else, I believe, this important film is about the strength of the human spirit over so-called biological determinism. As the main character, Vincent, shows us, the will of the spirit far outweighs one's genetic predisposition. Writer/director Andrew Nicole (Simone, The Truman Show) has rendered a near perfect film depicting a not so future dystopian world where governments determine its citizen's place in society before they're even born. This is fascism in its purest form. Our protagonist, Vincent, had the misfortune of being born a `love child' conceived in the back seat of his parent's car. He is a `de(gene)rate' whose future has been already determined: a life of slovenly jobs, a marked citizen, known as an `invalid'. One day he realises, after saving his near perfect, genetically engineered brother's life, that he has what it takes to join the ranks of society's elite, and sets a plan in motion to join the Gattaca company. The lengths this boy goes to in order to achieve his goal is nothing less than astounding.
Considering the current lock down of our rights in society, (fingerprinting and computerized mugshots at every border airport) and due process dwindling at an alarming rate; genetic science becoming society's sole judge and executioner in our courts of law; and genetic science itself moving ahead in leaps and bounds without true and productive debate about the ethical implications, the world of Gattaca is almost upon us. As the film states at the beginning, "In the not so distant future.", is a frightening reality we must consider. This is an important film that should not be ignored.
Movie Review: A Triumph of the Human Spirit
Summary: 5 Stars
"Gattaca" is an incredible example of a science-fiction movie entirely based on plot, low-key twists and development, and not on special effects. Married couple Hawke and Thurman, along with Jude Law, and the direction of Andrew Nicol prove that there is no gene for the human spirit.Vincent (Hawke) is an invalid, a "degenerate" born of natural conception without any advanced genetic engineering. Several seconds after he is born, his parents know how Vincent will die, and his life expectancy. As he grows, his heart dysfunction limits his career choices. As a result, his parents have another child, this time genetically engineered to be totally superior. The feuding siblings prove themselves over a game of swimming chicken, but it is inevitable as Anton grows more faster than Vincent that the younger child will be the favored. As a result, Vincent leaves the home and begins a job as a janitor at the Gattaca Aerospace Center, the closest he can be to his dream: the stars. But he finds that a janitor is the farthest away. Vincent trains his body and mind, but still cannot get past the cleaning job. Then, he makes a call.
He wants to be a defective ladder, or, a stand-in for a enhanced person. Vincent stands in for one of the most prized people, Jerome Morrow (Law). His disguises are perfect. Jerome supplies the blood, urine, and hair to Vincent. Then, just as Vincent is getting along at Gattaca, there is a murder of the exact mission director that was in charge of the flight to Titan that included Vincent. Enter enhance Irene (Thurman) and investigators Hugo and Josef. Vincent adequately, with the help of Jerome, sneaks past the investigators at every turn while a relationship develops between himself and Irene. Drama, suspense, incredible acting follow.
Hawke, in one of his first dramatic leads, shines as he plays an ordinary man who is extrodinary in using everyday techniques. He is the most human character in the entire movie, but holds the weight for all the the genetically enhanced. Uma Thurman, who's not given such a role as Hawke, does well with what she have. Director Niccol really accentuates on her beauty and innocence as he plays Irene, and enhance that really has no idea of the real life that Vincent is so accustomed to. There is excellent chemistry between the two. The two dated after the movie was over, and eventually were wed. There is a great supporting cast, including Alan Aarkin, Jude Law, and Ernest Borgnine.
"Gattaca" is an under-rated movie that suprises all, and wonders how much spirit we can all have.
Movie Review: Presents an Issue that Baffles Many
Summary: 5 Stars
Gattaca is an excellent science fiction movie that serves as a 1990's equivalent of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Many questions concerning philosophy, theology and science could be addressed from those who see this movie.From a philosophical perspective, one might argue that though the setting is in the future, the vision of the created society is quite ancient. In this movie only the most powerful leaders making the most influential decisions are the so-called "gifted", which is idealistically a mirror of Plato's Republic. So from a structured standpoint, Gattaca is the culmination of ideas or ideals established from the most highly esteemed of the ancient Greeks; however, it is also blended in with the modern day science of genetic engineering, where a perfect society must be run by perfect people, most of whom are products or byproducts of the scientific wonders of those who have determined what constitutes the attainment of human perfection.
Running counter to theme of Gattaca are those outcasts who are supposedly too genetically deficient for the main functioning of society but who nonetheless believe that they can transcend the imposed limitations and expectations (e.g. physical endurance, life expectancy, etc.) predetermined even before birth.
Two opposing themes are prevalent throughout. At one end of the spectrum, society has accepted that science is advanced enough to pinpoint the outcomes of one's destiny from birth to death as well as tell in advance what that person's particular strengths and weaknesses will be. On the other end, however, is one's attempts to show that the whole is more than the sum of its parts and that the efforts of constituting a perfect society are misconstrued for they are merely the result of adding those methodical bits and pieces.
Quite disturbing is the fact that there exist terminologies that bring about new discussion concerning this movie as well as the vision of a progressing, futuristic society. Among these are paradigm shifts, infrastructures and zones of proximity, each of which can be looked upon from so many different angles.
All in all, perhaps what is the main issue is determining just what human potential is and who the experts of this advancement are supposed to be. Added to this are concerns about the future and whether our leaders who will, by then, espouse bringing forth progress will by and large be compassionate philanthropists at best or sociopathic, cultic leaders at worst.