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Laramie Movie Scope:
Gattaca

A story about a different kind of dystopian future

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by Robert Roten, Film Critic
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August 31, 1997 -- "Gattaca" is a story about a different kind of future than what is depicted in most movies. It is a place where genetic potential is prized above actual ability, a sleek, passionless world where people's destinies are determined at birth by their genetic makeup. Most Hollywood films portray the future as dark and dirty dystopia (opposite of utopia) with a vast underclass in rags lorded over by a few rich, high-tech types.

In a sense, the future of "Gattaca" is very close at hand. Once the human genome is completely mapped, a project currently under way, it may, indeed, be possible for your insurance company to cancel the health care coverage on your unborn child based on a pre-birth reading of unfavorable genetic markers. Talk about having the deck stacked against you! That's a far cry from the old idea of everyone being created equal.

Those are the sort of long odds facing Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), born in the future without the advantage of genetic engineering. He is told, from the day he was born that he is inferior to his brother, Anton (Loren Dean), who was genetically engineered to be smarter, stronger and who also has a better chance of living longer. Vincent is told his heart will probably fail by the time he is 30 years old.

Vincent feels, however, that he is just as good as his brother and he sets out to prove that he can accomplish his heart's desire, to be an astronaut. Despite his brilliance at celestial navigation, however, he isn't accepted into the Gattaca astronaut program because of his weak genetics. Gattaca, by the way, is a word made up entirely of the letters A, C, G and T, letters which also stand for nucleotides, which are components of DNA molecules. Those same letters are highlighted in the closing credits of the film.

Vincent gets some unexpected help in his quest, however, from a sort of genetic hustler, who connects him with Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), a guy with great genes, but a broken back. Vincent, with Morrow's help, assumes Morrow's identity, using a variety of techniques and gimmicks to fool the numerous genetic screening procedures in Gattaca.

However, one eyelash left behind puts police detectives on his trail when there is a murder at Gattaca. While eluding police, Vincent meets, and falls in love with Irene Cassini (Uma Thurman of "Pulp Fiction"). It turns out that Cassini is genetically engineered, but didn't turn out as perfect as her parents hoped for.

In this cool, emotionless, sterile future, the actors don't get much of a chance to express themselves. As one of the few unengineered people in the film, police detective Hugo Coldspring (Alan Arkin) really stands out. Coldspring's thinly disguised contempt for his genetically engineered superior and his wry humor are a welcome relief from the flatness of other characters. Arkin is an often overlooked actor who is a lot of fun to watch.

Ethan Hawke and Jude Law are both effective in portraying their character's differing frustrations in the film. Vincent is a man frustrated by his frail health and the curse of his genetic deficiencies. Morrow is a man frustrated by his inability to live up to his superb genetic potential.

The film's message is clear. You can give someone a stacked deck, a better chance to succeed, with genetic engineering, but that doesn't make him a winner. It doesn't give you heart and it doesn't give you character. It may even cause you not to try as hard as someone who is less gifted. This isn't a prediction for the future, it is a simple human truth.

In a way this story is a kind of low-key equivalent to the film "Rudy" where you've got a runt stubbornly trying to hang in there against a bunch of giants and he ends up being carried off on their shoulders. It is an inspirational story of sheer determination.

It is also a very good effort by first-time director Andrew M. Niccol from New Zealand. He also wrote the screenplay. When I read he was from New Zealand, I was reminded of a 1985 New Zealand science fiction film that is similarly low-key, called "The Quiet Earth." Like that film, "Gattaca" is great-looking, with wonderful, futuristic sets. But it really isn't a showy film. It just has a good, solid story. It rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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Copyright © 1997 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.
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Robert Roten can be reached via e-mail at my last name at lariat dot org. [Mailer button: image of letter and envelope]

(If you e-mail me with a question about this or any other movie or review, please mention the name of the movie you are asking the question about, otherwise I may have no way of knowing which film you are referring to)