Today’s quick review: Gattaca. In the future, advanced genetic testing has cut off whole swaths of jobs for the genetically inferior. Born sickly, Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) pursues his dream of space travel the only way he can: by posing as Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), a genetically superior man, at the space exploration company known as Gattaca. But when his supervisor is murdered, the ensuing investigation threatens to expose his deception.
Gattaca is a science fiction drama that extrapolates the societal effects of improved genetic testing and engineering. As genetic screening and designer pregnancies all but eliminate heritable disease, a new underclass arises for the genetically disadvantaged. To sneak into the most exclusive jobs, these outcasts must take on false identities to fool the frequent genetic tests, often striking a deal with a donor who has fallen on hard times.
Gattaca takes a simple, plausible premise and uses it to tell a well-written and interesting tale of perseverance. To maintain his lie, Vincent must diligently tend to the slightest traces of genetic material he might leave behind, replacing them instead with samples taken from Jerome. Vincent is a weak man by birth, and only his dedication to his goal gives him the strength to take the grueling steps necessary to compete with the more fortunate.
The tone of the movie blends thoughtful sci-fi speculation, a suspenseful plot, and personal drama for an experience that mingles sentiment and detachment. Uma Thurman plays Irene, a coworker of Vincent’s who helps out Detective Hugo (Alan Arkin) with the investigation. The development of their relation comes at a bad time: her investigation draws him close to his secrets, while Vincent’s promised space flight is less than a week away.
Watch Gattaca if you are a science fiction fan who appreciates well-written drama and clean, minimalistic plots. Gattaca lacks the grand scope or sweeping pronouncements about the future that other sci-fi movies tend to indulge in; instead it focuses on a simple premise and its very personal consequences. Steer clear if you are looking for action, spectacle, or humor.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for clean execution of an unusually credible sci-fi premise.