Gattaca (1997)

Directed by: Andrew Niccol

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law

Overall Rating: 96.1

"Gattaca" manages to create a world so vivid and unbelievably realistic, that you forget that the film came out in 1997.  Director Andrew Niccol has made a name for himself by making smart, inventive futuristic sci-fi movies (director of "S1m0ne" and "In Time", writer of "The Truman Show"), and he was given space to stretch his creative legs after his debut work of "Gattaca" simply wowed audiences.

"Gattaca" tells the tale of a future where genetic modification and DNA examination of a young child's DNA can lay out their future for them.  Even after just being born, parents can see any early defects that might occur later in life, or modify their child's genetics to ensure they are placed in a higher class of society.  The theme of "class" is something that plays throughout not just "Gattaca", but all of Niccol's work.

Vincent (Hawke) had the misfortune to be born without the use of technology, causing him to have a lifelong heart condition that could have otherwise been prevented.  Vincent's ultimate goal was to be an astronaut, but given his less-than-perfect DNA, knows it's a dream that will never occur without breaking a few rules.

Cue the genetically perfect Jerome (Law).  Jerome was a physical specimen, but was depressed and after unsuccessfully attempting suicide, found himself permanently residing in a wheelchair.  After a chance meeting, Jerome and Vincent concoct a plan to give both men purpose in their life by transforming Vincent into Jerome.  Vincent would appear to be genetically "valid" enough to be accepted into the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, while Jerome's perfect genetics would be put to good use.

The film does a great job of depicting just how far someone is willing to go to achieve their dreams.  By no fault of his own, Vincent was dealt a bad hand at birth, but refused to believe he was invalid and incapable of achieving greatness.  One of the most memorable moments comes towards the climax of the movie, where during a swimming competition in the ocean, Vincent tells his competitor who is scared of not being able to make it back to shore alive, "You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it. I never saved anything for the swim back."  It's this heart over physicality mentality that makes Vincent seem and feel invincible, and keeps his coworkers at Gattaca all the none wiser that "Jerome" is actually an invalid.

Visually, Niccol creates this futuristic world that is both inventive, but grounded in reality.  The cars all make stereotypical futuristic sounds, but resemble their modern counterparts.  Throughout his lifespan of directing, Niccol tends to favor the color green (even more so in 2011's "In Time"), and "Gattaca" helps lay that foundation with a hint of green shading in the majority of key scenes.

"Gattaca" manages to take the sci-fi genre, and add a deep layer of emotion and drama within.  As most great sci-fi storytellers tend to do, Niccol uses the futuristic elements of his film as foundations, but leave his characters to tell the story.  The story isn't about the future or sci-fi wonder, it's about the fight of a young man wanting to achieve his dreams.  For this reason, Gattaca stands out as an essential must-watch.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 10
Dialogue: 10
Acting: 8
Direction: 10
Audio/Visual: 9