Gattaca (1997) Only Genetic Perfection To Fly To The Stars

The future is here. Eugenics will change the world! No more lottery on your unborn baby having some form of deformity, however minor. Or even lets say, a lesser intelligence! Why would you take a gamble on your child’s future? Why not have some genetic selection cross referenced to ensure the best quality hereditary traits are met. Why roll the dice with a high percentage of heart disease when a little tweaking of the DNA code could almost guarantee a piston like pump into old age. To be able to eradicate certain unthinkable horrific life changing disorders like Motor Neurone Disease before a child is even born. But wait! Then no Stephen Hawking or at least a different Stephen Hawking. Yeah I know, that is an extreme case.

Vincent – “I belonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the color of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science.”

Other problems could arise. Does actually having the best start in life have the obstacle of damping drive and ambition? Could being an elitist push out other human qualities, like humour or passion. Would an employer look differently on employing a genetically superior candidate over, say a regular Joe Blogs?. Lucky genetic discrimination is illegal in this future but inside Gattaca Aerospace Corporation you have to be way above the best. Yeah they’ll give you a try of the exam but come on, they ain’t gonna let you in, it’s impossible. You ain’t going to space with a dodgy ticker. Unless that is, you have crazy ambition bursting through the roof. You’re willing to take your desire and obsession way higher than anyone would ever go to realise your dreams

Vincent – “They used to say that a child conceived in love has a greater chance of happiness. They don’t say that anymore.”

Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) is born the usual way. Conceived in the back seat of a Studebaker Avanti! (puts that on my bucket list). Making his arrival in the world with an instant blood test revealing how he will most certainly die! Estimated life span of 30.2 years! With that news looming over Mum and Pops, when younger brother Anton arrives, he’s already been giving an extra hand. Where Vincent is short sighted and slower to develop. Anton on the other hand is tall, good looking and, well, a bit of a knob! Brother rivalry is toxic and as soon as Vincent is old enough, he leaves.

Tagline – Only one criterion – genetic perfection

Vincent dreams daily of reaching the stars. To become an astronaut and travel to Saturn’s moon Titan. He excels in his studies, his determination is skies ahead of everyone. He would be top of the class at Gattaca. His drive is second to none. Yet his genetics let him down, he has and always will, fail the test. He hasn’t a chance. Yet! he is there, top of the class. Looked over admiringly by Director Josef (Gore Vidal). How?

Well your need to sit and watch this impressive thoughtful science fiction film to find out if you haven’t seen it. But let’s say he has a helping hand from Jerome Eugene Morrow (Jude Law). And has to spend his pocket money on pumice stones, scrubbing brushes and a tiny vacuum cleaner. He’s in the NASA like facility, getting closer to his goal. Now don’t fall in love with Irene Cassini (Uma Thurman) and complicate matters? Can Vincent fool a perfection obsessed world and follow his dreams into space?

• Written and directed by Andrew Niccol. He also wrote The Truman Show.
• On paper, probably just me, that Ethan, Uma and Jude just all seemed strange choices for this film. Remember thinking that back in 97. So pleased I was completely wrong and the trio bring so much to the subdued dramatic in their performances.
• Superior supporting cast including Xander Berkeley, Elias Koteas, Tony Shalhoub, and two classics, Alan Arkin and legendary, Ernest Borgnine.
• Gattaca has a wonderful neo-noir feel with it’s retro throwback to the fifties. The fifties meets the future. Retrofitted cars run on batteries. The cops, Alan Arkin and Loren Dean wear rain coats and trilbys.
• Check the cars! Oh my days. I always had my heart set on a Rover P6, one day she will be mine. I’ve always loved the French Citroën DS and I’d never seen the Studebaker Avanti before! That car blew my mind then and now!
• Michael Nyman composes the beautiful soundtrack. It has the same beautiful, sad bittersweetness that 2016 Arrival has. Incidentally the main theme flowing through is called The Arrival. It’s stunning.

Got to revisit Gattaca on Friday on Netflix with my daughter Nyah and she very much enjoyed it, result. I’d first seen it on release and just can’t believe it’s near on 21 years old now! Guessing it shows how much I’d loved it and the impact it must of had on me because I remembered it all so well. The vibe of the future world is extremely well filmed inside the cold complex of Gattaca. Minimalist with the feeling of a future world not that far away in time. The emotionless characters slowly seep out feelings and fears as the film unfolds. Never has a film had such a sombre mood and depressing nature but still beautifully captures and pushes the human thoughts of follow your dreams. Not sure that last sentence made any sense but hopefully you got my gist. hehe.

Yep Gattaca is still as impressive today as I remembered…. Mikey

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