Gattaca Movie Review

Gattaca (1997)

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Written by: Andrew Niccol
Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Alan Arkin, Xander Berkely, Gore Vidal, Elias Koteas, Maya Rudolph, Blair Underwood, Tony Shaloub, Ernest Borgnine, Ken Marino, Dean Norris,
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
In the future, a genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.

Verdict
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love sci-fi, and this builds an intriguing and well developed world while telling an inspirational story. Discrimination based on science doesn't feel far fetched. The movie has a great look and production values that feel like a future just a few years out. Vincent is determined to succeed despite being quantifiably inferior. The scenes where he and his brother try to swim farther than the other are powerful. The score is amazing.
Watch it.

Review
What a world. Everything is predetermined based on genetics with babies engineered, yet the people making the rules were made the old fashioned way. Vincent was a  traditional birth, his brother Anton genetically modified as all kids are. That makes Vincent an invalid.

Ethan Hawke plays Vincent/Jerome.

From the start Vincent is regarded as inferior and less than. Told he wouldn't make it, his parents put all their hopes into his brother. Vincent, even if he lives to adulthood, will never fly to space because he isn't genetically modified. Only the best are allowed into space. Hope can't change that.I remember the first time I saw this, Vincent overcomes insurmountable odds despite given every excuse. Resumes and experience don't matter, only your genetic code. As Vincent states, they have "discrimination down to a science." His dream is space flight, but that's a job reserved for only the best of society.

Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke play Irene and Vincent/Jerome.

I wonder how he found the guy who sells him a new identity. Why would they not talk about height until later? It should be first, but it's transposed for dramatic effect. I can't blame the movie for it.

He assumes the identity of Jerome who is virtually perfect, but Jerome's future is lost due to an accident. It's an intriguing comparison with an  invalid pretending to be valid knowing he isn't good enough and Jerome who is supposed to be perfect reconciling the fact that he can never be perfect. He was never supposed to fail and yet he did. Vincent and Jerome have a symbiotic relationship. Vincent has the drive Jerome lacked. Jerome gets to see himself succeed even if it's in name only. "I gave you my body, you lent me your dream."
The impressive thing about Vincent is that he is one of the best at his job despite being an imposter. He isn't supposed to be smart enough or capable. He wasn't even supposed to live this long.

Jude Law plays Jerome/Eugene.

A fun dynamic is that Vincent's brother is chasing him down. As much as his brother was built up, the director of Gattaca regards Anton as less than. The brothers meet and end up seeing who can swim farther in the ocean. Anton reverts to the one thing he knows that he can succeed where his brother can't. Vincent wins and his brother can't fathom that an invalid can subvert the system and succeed. That's not supposed to be possible. While the movie doesn't get into it, I wonder if this system makes the invalids complacent, the valids too for that matter. They don't have to work for anything. The quality of your DNA dictates your success.The performances are great. Jude Law dives into entitled mode so well, yet you still see the pain he carries of everything that could have been.
The score is incredible. As much as this movie does well, the score might be the best thing about it.

Ever since this film I've followed Niccol's work, but nothing has ever come close to matching Gattaca. The writing and story are great, and I love how this ends. The metaphor isn't subtle, reaching for the stars, but it ends with Jerome and Vincent achieving their dreams. This movie never walls into sappy emotional drama about overcoming the odds. Some things can't be measured, but this world will never realize that. It's implied most people accept their fates. It's bittersweet ending as Vincent and Jerome leave behind things they care about.