"Beware how you take away hope from another human being." - Oliver Holmes (Gattaca (DVD))

Member Name: ILoveJackDaniels

Product:	Gattaca (DVD)
Date:	21/12/01 (1295 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Acting, Superb Story

Disadvantages: Nothing Major

Gattaca is a futuristic movie, set in a World where people are judged not on the colour, or race, or looks, but on their very genetic makeup. Genetics have advanced to such a stage that prospective parents, if they choose, can actually decide on the sex and qualities of their unborn children before pregnancy. Genetic defects such as heart conditions, sight problems, and hereditary illnesses can be totally avoided, simply by visiting your local doctor - who will create a person from the very best parts of both parents.

If that were the entire plot of the film,it would be very tedious. Fortunately, it isn't. Though most parents choose to conceive using the advanced techniques on offer to them, others choose to do things ... the old fashioned way. Natural births are not uncommon, but the element of chance means that invariably naturally born children are disadvantaged.

At birth, doctors perform a simple DNA test, and this gives every piece of information about every natural baby, even down to their life expectancy and the probable cause of their eventual death. Morbid stuff.

The film focusses on one of these natural babies. Vincent was conceived by his parents, and when born was found to have a heart defect - placing his life expectancy at around 30 years. Eventually his parents decided to have a second child, and this time, they left nothing to chance. The resulting son, Anton, became taller, stronger ... better ... than Vincent. Competition between the two was much the same as every sibling rivalry, with Anton invariably coming out on top.

Vincent's dreams are those of high-flying - the highest there is. The film focusses on this goal, Vincent's dream of going into space. Being an invalid (aka de-gene-erate, or natural born person), he stood no chance. He could fool nobody about his genetic makeup. One simple test, and all his foibles would be plain to see. He does not, indeed can not, give up his dream. The only way fo
r him to ever go into space is for his to appear to the rest of the World to be someone better - a Valid.

Since his DNA can never be changed, the only was he can achieve this is to take on another persona - that of a valid. Some people are unlucky, despite their genetic advantages, and these people offer themselves (literally) to any invalid who can afford them. Their hair, urine and blood are all used to create the illusion that the invalid is actually a valid.

Vincent calls a man who can help. He is quickly introduced to Jerome - a once-successful swimmer, now crippled after a car accident that broke his back. With Jerome's help Vincent gets into Gattaca - a space academy of sorts ... and that's all I'm going to tell you. Unexpected twists and turns make the rest of the film fantastic, and to give away any more would be to spoil it. Intrigue, a love interest and a (predictable) twist at the end are all created beautifully, and it is hard not to be entertained.

The cast is impeccable - Uma Thurman plays the love interest, Irene. Jude Law plays Jerome, and Ethan Hawke takes on the role of Vincent. Lesser roles are taken on by some very big names - Gore Vidal, Ernest Borgnine, Alan Arkin and Loren Dean to name but a few. Ethan Hawke and Jude Law really steal the show, unsurprisingly, both playing their respective characters impeccably and totally believably.

The set is also breathtaking. From the dusky halls of Gattaca to the bare minimalism of Jerome's appartment, you can't help but wonder where the jetbikes and hovercrafts are. There is very little futuristic technology in this film, despite it's setting, and this worked very well. Rather than focussing on the marvels that so easily find their way into films in this timeframe (as in A.I.), you just end up concentrating on the characters (who are dressed almost classically, rather than in standard minimalistic, silver and gold garb). As this film is about p
eople, I was glad to see little of the mind blowing special effects I have come to expect from any film based in the future.

The film is not fast paced, but quick enough to keep you thinking. You may well find yourself confused at certain points in the film - it jumps from one time period or event to another without warning on several occasions. You do get the feeling during the movie that a lot was left on the cutting room floor, leaving the film at 101 minutes.

Andrew Niccol does a great job directing. Between him, the plot, script and cast, the film is superb. Doubtless, it will not appeal to everyone, yet I found it both intriguing and disturbing. Given the current genetic developments in the USA, it is hardly surprising that a film like this has been made, but it certainly raises some interesting questions about morality.

It is one of those films that will appeal to everyone for a different reason. For most, I imagine it stirs those feelings everyone has - 'Am I good enough?', 'Could I be better at what I do?' or 'Why is that person better than me?'. For some, they will see a lot of themselves in the characters. Others will see the people they have always wanted to be. Whichever of the above you are, it is because of those feelings that you will be engrossed in the story until the end, and left wanting just a little more.

I'll leave you with the words of Ernest Borgnine, who said of this film: "One of things I liked most about this story is that it is really about how we treat our fellow man. God knows we've seen discrimination in our world and unfortunately we seem to have forgotten how to love one another. Will we learn to treat one another kindly no matter a person's skin or beliefs or genetics, or will we find new ways to discriminate?"

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