I've heard it said that if any sci-fi film were to become reality, Gattaca would be the first in line. Makes sense since the premise of the film is highly likely to take place in real life, maybe not soon, but definitely in my lifetime.In an age of "perfect" people, one "traditionally born" boy grows to be a man with an impossible dream: travel into space. He was naturally conceived without any genetic tampering, and as a result of that he has a few problems with his body. His younger brother, on the other hand, was perfected before birth and it shows. This overwhelming factor leads to the departure of the genetically inferior older brother, which begins our tale of hope.
In order to achieve his dreams, Vincent riskily takes on the identity of a genetically enhanced man now confined to a wheelchair. Everyone calls him Jerome, but Vincent's dreams are his own and the film proves that being yourself is always the best way.
A gorgeous musical score helps the film flow to many emotional places, and an exciting murder-mystery also gives the film an added dose of drama. 1997 was a great year for sci-fi cinema and, along with the equally impressive "Contact", Gattaca is a memorable film and a real highlight of the year. Film: 5/5 stars.
The blu-ray presents the film in a great way, considering the film's age. I would definitely recommend upgrading from the DVD, since the blu-ray often provides great detail in image, especially during closeups. Video quality gets 4.5/5 stars.
The audio is also great. Anyone familiar with the film's musical score knows its something special, and the dialogue is audible as well. Audio gets 4.5/5 stars.
Overall: 4.5/5 stars. Gattaca keeps getting better with age, and is underrated sci-fi that might have been ahead of its time. It might even speak of our future! The blu-ray is great and a definite upgrade from the DVD. Own it!
Rating: PG-13. Some brief violence and language. Male nudity and sensuality in some scenes. Ages 15 and up.
Such is the world that we see in "Gattaca," a scarily plausible sci-fi story that examines the implications of eugenics and genetic enhancement. Director Andrew Niccol thankfully never gets too preachy or "uplifting" -instead he crafts a cleanly elegant story with a murder mystery as the catalyst, and the strong trinity Jude Law, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.
Vincent Freeman (Hawke) is an "invalid," conceived without eugenic technology. On the day he was born, it was predicted that he would be myopic, might be bipolar, and would probably die at thirty from a heart defect. Throughout his life, Vincent dreams of becoming an astronaut, but his genetic status dooms him to menial labor.
The solution: Vincent "buys" the identity and genetic profile of Jerome Eugene Morrow (Law), an Olympic swimmer who broke his back in a car crash. Vincent will pay Jerome, and Jerome will provide him with blood, urine, skin and hair samples.
With Jerome's help, Vincent is accepted into Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, and is chosen for a manned flight to Titan. But when one of the administrators is found murdered, the police find one of Vincent's eyelashes nearby. If they discover who Vincent truly is, he won't just lose his dream -he'll be convicted of murder.
"Gattaca" is a movie that addresses one of life's great questions -does destiny determine how we live our lives, or do we decide our own fate? There are no easy answers, but it's always best to err on the side of "we can make our own destiny" -and this movie is basically all about one man's quest to determine his own fate, DNA be damned.
None of the movies Andrew Niccol has made since "Gattaca" have even come close to this level of skill -the movie is a slow, elegant winding of murder mystery and philosophical sci-fi. The plot quietly grows in tension as Vincent's life becomes more tangled up in lies and suspicion, with quietly powerful dialogue laced with dry humor ("I guess we can rule out suicide," comments a cop as they bag a bloodied keyboard).
And it's beautifully filmed. Everything is full of clean lines and cold light, with the occasional moment of symbolism -note that the apartment that Eugene and Vincent share is centered around a giant DNA-style spiral staircase.
And the final puzzle pieces are the actors, who are all really good. Ethan Hawke gives a quietly powerful performance as a man who goes to desperate lengths to fulfill his dreams, and Uma Thurman has the right mix of icy reserve and sweetness as a "valid" woman who falls in love with the man rather than his DNA.
But the best performance is Jude Law. Jerome a truly tragic character, whose genetic perfection wasn't enough to keep disaster away -he's proof that DNA can't make your life good or rewarding. Law plays him with a mixture of bitter wit and compassion, with perpetually shadowed eyes and a drink always in his hand. You may cheer for Vincent, but your heart will bleed for Jerome.
"Gattaca" is a masterpiece of science fiction -a richly nuanced, beautifully understated work that reminds you that, no matter where we come from, we can all reach for the stars.Why are there two different versions of this on Blu-Ray on Amazon, and what is the difference?
(Not counting the weird "bilingual" one in English/Esperanto.)
Here is one, already released ASIN: B000HEVZ6W
New one, not out yet ASIN: B00C6F60HE
Also, both Blu-Ray disks say they are in NTSC format. I thought we left that behind when we transitioned to High Definition. Shouldn't they both say 1080p or something similar?
(The movie is great. I am giving the product shown here on amazon one star (because I can't give it zero) for the lack of information and general crapitude of presentation.)
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