Review of Gattaca (1997) by Jason M — 28 Aug 2010

Imagine a world in the not so distant future where the practice of liberal eugenics has been perfected to the point where any trace of disease, physical defects, weakness, or propensity towards an early death can be eliminated before birth. The result being a new advanced class of human, devoid of any physical or mental defect. Essentially, the perfect man (or woman). The entire world would be changed by this science. People would live longer. There would be no need for advancements in medicine because people would be born without any predisposed ailments.

Now imagine being among the elite of the world as a person who suffered the injustice of a ?natural birth?. Someone who's parents chose to place their faith in the natural order of things instead of science. An outcast or ?invalid? is what you would be considered. Someone who is destined by birth to not make the cut, to not succeed with the rest of the valid world. The only work you can find is minimal labor and unwanted, thankless and menial jobs cleaning up after the valid world. As it turns out, discrimination has evolved beyond the color of ones skin and beyond ones nationality into a science. If you are not genetically superior, it's assumed by all that you are destined to fail. Of course this is illegal. It's called ?genoism?. But just like any law against discrimination, companies and individuals alike have found a way around it.

This is the setting for Andrew Niccol's 1997 science fiction drama Gattaca. Enter Vincent Freeman (played by Ethan Hawk), a ?Godchild,? or natural born who's parents chose to ?leave a few things up to chance?. When Vincent was born, his exact life expectancy and all of his potential ailments were immediately revealed. As a child Vincent dreams of becoming an astronaut. Spending his youth studying about the stars in the hopes of one day getting his chance to explore outer space. In addition to the fact that becoming an astronaut is a very challenging occupation in of itself, this facet of society is reserved only for the elite number. Of course this is a problem for Vincent given his predisposition at birth.

Regardless of his resume or his knowledge, he would never see the inside of a space shuttle unless he was cleaning it. All hope is not lost for Vincent though. As a desperate measure, Vincent seeks the help of a fallen swimming star and genetically elite named Jerome Morrow (played by Jude Law). After surviving a car accident, Jerome is crippled and confined to a wheel chair. By preparing samples of Jerome's DNA the idea was to switch identities. ?One mans loss is another mans gain? as Vincent elegantly puts it. While Vincent begins to rise in the ranks of the Gattaca Aerospace corporation, a company devoted to space exploration, he is finally within site of his dream of venturing into the unknown when a murder at his workplace puts him in jeopardy of being discovered.

The style of Gattaca is very monochromatic. The colors and sets used were perfect for the setting of a clean futuristic society, obsessed with perfection. As a matter of fact the film received an Oscar nod for best art direction but lost it to ?Titanic?. Gattaca is not a flashy expensive picture. Although the locations chosen for the film were in great taste and perfect for the backdrop of the story there was nothing special about the production values. There was no need. The story, driven by terrific performances by Ethan Hawk, Jude Law and Uma Thurman were all that was needed. The timing and pacing of the plot is near perfect. A couple of other noticeable faces here are Tony Shalhoub (TV's Monk) and Xander Berkeley (seasons 1 and 2 of TV's 24).

The story is nothing short of brilliant. It raises many moral and ethical questions regarding genetic manipulation and how it would change the world for the better and worse. The idea of discrimination amidst the social classes and the effect it has on the common man is portrayed with beautiful precision. The idea that a driven man is capable of achieving anything he sets his mind too is among many of the themes explored in this film. The central theme of course being that no matter what limitations someone is presented with, there is no substitute for the human spirit. A truly inspirational film which has not only stood the test of time, but will be remembered as true science fiction.