Gattaca

Ultimately, the core of this film is human striving, human imperfection, and personal meaning. No matter where one finds oneself on the bell curve, there is always someone further to the right. If not, every friend, lover, relative and person one will ever know lies somewhere to the left. Only acceptance of this fact, over all metrics, will allow true equity to exist for everyone on the spectrum. Gattaca is a 1997 film written and directed by Andrew M. Niccol. It was his first feature film -- although he was an accomplished director of commercials -- and was followed by The Truman Show and In Time, among others. It falls into the genre of science fiction, and is set in the near future. Genetic technology is ubiquitous, but was just becoming accepted at the time of the protagonist's birth. Vincent is conceived and carried to term without intervention via genetic technologies that select or modify zygotes prior to cell division. The original script called this a "faith birth," although the term "IN-VALID," pronounced like the word "invalid" in "an invalid driver's license," is used more prominently in the movie. Vincent has varying propensities for genetically-influenced issues such as aggression, obesity, and attention-deficit disorder, which remain untreatable in an age where the obvious solution is for them to be eradicated by genetically selecting them out of existence. He has a genetic heart condition which results in a 99% chance of a 30.5-year life expectancy. His parents' awareness of this causes them to treat him as an invalid his entire childhood and to stress his limitations instead of his potential. Vincent's younger brother, Anton, is genetically enhanced, and therefore VALID. The process of his genetic selection is described in more detail in an earlier script, including the fact that his parents had to save every dime for two years in order to afford the process, but were unable to afford enhancements such as the "innate" ability to play the piano or understand higher mathematics. Anton and Vincent are rivals -- most tellingly at open ocean swimming -- with Anton's enhanced physicality and Vincent's heart condition leading to predictable results, at least during childhood. Anton stands indifferently by as Vincent leaves home at sixteen, disappearing into the genetic underclass of day laborers, housecleaners and sanitation workers. Anton is a child of privilege and an adult who displays many of the markers of childhood, perhaps because he never had to face adversity in his own life. As lead investigator of a murder committed at the corporation where Vincent, and later Jerome, is employed, these qualities surface. Due to an errant eyelash, Vincent (the IN-VALID) becomes a suspect. Anton searches for him, or any genetic traces of him, without revealing that they are related, and without initially suspecting that Vincent is posing as VALID. Society is divided into IN-VALIDs and VALIDs. The law outlaws overt discrimination based on genetics, but the reality of society is one similar to the Reconstruction South and Jim Crow. Tacit acceptance of a genetic underclass -- with diminishing demographics (and political power) due to the rapid adoption of genetic intervention -- but with subtle and not so subtle social "selection processes" inevitably at work. For example, Vincent works hard to improve his skills and knowledge so that he can become a celestial navigator. His attempts at employment are consistently foiled based on drug testing which also reveals his genetic status. A more "qualified" applicant is chosen. His only recourse is manual unskilled labor, thus his short stint of employment as a janitor at the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. Selection occurs not just in employment, but in mate selection as well. Today women will run a background check on potential mates to determine their (criminal?) past or economic prospects. In the film, they do the same for unseen genetic qualities -- thus Vincent's dates eventually migrate to Anton based upon their surreptitious collection and testing of genetic material. Why would these women ever accept the economic consequences of an IN-VALID's prospects? Why would they opt for a reduced quality of life based on their spouse's potential susceptibility to untreatable ailments or reduced life expectancy? They want a quality partner with a comparable chance for a lengthy high quality life together, similar or better offspring and mitigation of risk. Any reasonable person would desire the same, with the vast majority willing to fudge a little with respect to the "means" in order to maximize the "ends." Vincent is marginalized in both his professional and personal life -- reduced to the permanent underclass, his dreams of space travel unrealized or unrealizable, alone and without prospects -- yet remains resolved. He is not defeated. He works, saves his money and spends every moment of free time educating himself or working out. He constantly goes without and always pushes himself. He resorts to a "borrowed ladder" in the form of Jerome Eugene Morrow, a paraplegic willing to provide skin, hair, blood and urine samples to Vincent on an ongoing basis so that Vincent might represent himself as Jerome, a VALID with "Eugene's" genetics and Vincent's hard earned knowledge and skills. Vincent's resolve is further demonstrated by his having both shin bones surgically severed and reset with titanium rods, increasing his height 2" to match Eugene's genetic profile for height. The scars are explained as being exactly the height of the front fender of a '99 Chrysler LeBaron. Vincent's heartbeat during tests is a recording of Eugene's, resulting in the lab tech Lamar's comment "Six miles later it's still beating like a Goddamn metronome. I could play piano by that heartbeat of his." Meanwhile Vincent's actual heartbeat is over 220 as he masks extreme fatigue, lactic acid buildup and oxygen deprivation by sheer force of will, confident in public but collapsing in private once it is over. Only extremes of discipline and training allow him to pull off this ruse. However his prowess as a celestial navigator is not faked, as evidenced by this assessment: "I reviewed your flight plan. Not one error in a hundred thousand keystrokes. Phenomenal. (placing a hand on Jerome's shoulder) It's right that someone like you is taking us to Titan." Note the "...like you..." instead of "...someone with your skills..." or "...someone with your knowledge..." This distinction is the critical take away of this exchange. The script is full of undercurrents as subtle and deep as this minor inflection. However as much as the film is at its surface about big ideas -- about institutional and societal discrimination -- it ultimately reveals itself to be about the relationships between its characters. About Vincent/Anton, Vincent/Irene, Vincent/Lamar, and Vincent/Eugene... and how their relationships are framed by these larger issues.

The most striking thing about this film is its artistic quality and "Hitchcock-esque" feel. This film is full of symmetry which makes it visually pleasing while at the same time exposing the inequality in imbalance of human existence in a society where only perfect people matter, and where "We now have discrimination down to a science". The story follows the life of Vincent, a young boy who dreams of going into space. One day he finds himself assuming the identity of Jerome (played by Jude Law), a genetically engineered person who, because of a tragic accident, is now crippled. Throughout the film, Vincent must use Jerome's DNA to continually fool others into believing that he is actually Jerome, thereby enabling him to secure a job with Gattaca, a space agency much like our NASA. Along the way Vincent meets Irene (Uma Thurman) and falls in love. As things progress, and Vincent nears the date of his launch, a murder takes place at the agency, and a sweep for DNA clues leads authorities to investigate Vincent as a possible suspect. Though he and Jerome are able to thwart the authorities, they remain suspicious of him and, just days before Vincent's launch into space, an eventual meeting takes place between Vincent and one of the investigators, who just happens to be a person from his past. Vincent also finds himself torn between his dream of becoming a space man and his newfound love for Irene. In the final scenes, the pieces of Vincent's life come together, and like a beautiful sonata, bring the story to a beautiful and moving conclusion. This film is clearly a work of art, and filled with quotes which will forever cement it in our hearts and memories. My favorite of all, "They say every atom in our bodies was once part of a star...Maybe I'm not leaving...Maybe I'm going home". Though this film didn't do very well at the box office, it has since become quite a cult classic, and for very good reason. If you appreciate fine art, photography and filmmaking, then you will love this film. This is definitely one to add to the movie library, and should be required viewing for anyone with a pulse.

Every so often, one sees a movie and says "this is the best movie I've ever seen---I probably won't see anything as moving as this. And sure enough, something comes along that is as good and many times better. The human condition is so varied and multi-faceted that one may never exhaust all the permutations of artistic expression that can be shown. For example, when the TV science fiction hit "Star Trek" came out I thought it was so fantastic. But when "ST The Next Generation" came along, I had serious doubts that it could match the original. Then, as I marveled at the story lines and the extra dimension of character interactions, I felt that TNG is better and can't be topped. With each iteration something new was introduced that explored the vastness of human interaction and inter-species interactions. Etc., Etc. GATTACA is yet another example of plumbing the depths of humanity, including out obsession with categorizing humans along the lines of artificial inventions like "Race", "Caste System", "Colorism". GATTACA is a haunting and beautifully conceived expression of the insanity that has had humanity in its grips for centuries and has made us into a species exemplified in the title of a book "Homo Hierarchicus"(by Louis Dumont) One phrase that implies how illusory and meaningless these artifices is the one on the DVD cover that says---"There is no gene for the human spirit". Unfortunately, those of us who've become cynical about that inner essence of a human that makes us unique and gives expression to us being more than an accidental collection of sophisticated chemicals. Without that recognition of the "soul" oh humans, we become prey to seeing each other simply in terms of genes and eventually slide into the dark philosophies and practices of eugenics, racism, nihilism, and skepticism concerning the existence of an "Unknowable Essence" who is beyond the ken and comprehension of finite minds. Nonetheless, this Unknowable Essence has created laws of mathematics and sciences that fashion and determine actions in the physical realm, and laws and principles that govern the "Spiritual Realm". One such spiritual law is "Love" which can't be measured and which has an analogue in the physical world called gravitational attraction and particle interactions. It is this force "Love" which allows humans to see past the need to relegate people to various categories based on tribal, racial, color, religious preference, and ethnicity. Other limitations have arisen to join the mix which we need not go into now. Baha'u'llah, the most recent of God's Messengers, has infused into the realm of human experience on the planet a new consciousness when in the 19th Century hw declared that the time has come for the forging of humankind into "A New Race" exemplified, among other places in his Writings the following: "O CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory." This is a sample of a new Paradigm which when fully explored, accepted, and implemented in our private and daily lives and policies, will protect us from falling prey to the miseries of apartheid, "Jim Crow Society", The Caste System, racist attitudes so clearly and chillingly portrayed in America, and elsewhere, and in our tendencies towards being religiously fanatical in our interpretations and applications of Religious principles.

I thought it would have more action, but the story and the journey of the spirit kept me captivated. Definitely worth watching.

Gattaca is not science fiction. Sure, it wears that suit to impress the stiffs, but at its heart it is a movie about faith and the human spirit. Anyone training for a triathlon or marathon has got to love this movie. It is about not only overcoming the prejudice of others around you, but also about overcoming the prejudice within you about yourself. The movie has deep, deep layers of religious themes too. Natural births are called "God-childs" and are looked down upon. One scene that struck a chord with me is the one where Jerome slaps Vincent in the face with Gattaca's perversion of unconditional grace: "Don't you get it! When they see you, they don't see you anymore, they see me." Another profoundly religious parallel is seen in Jerome's parting gift. Here is a playboy at heart, who learns self sacrifice. He gives Vincent "two-lifetimes" worth of blood and flesh, that he (and in a sense they both together) might ascend into the heavens. As a Christian, this variation, this strange communion of souls, struck a chord with me. As Jerome put it; "I lent you my body. You lent me your dreams." This movie has so many rich themes. One is of course overcoming self doubt, and trying to be someone your aren't in order to please others. When "Jerome" is exposed to Irene as Vincent; he confronts her as well regarding what "they" have got her believing about herself. There are so many favorite scenes for me in this film. There is the scene, the final race in the open sea between Vincent and his brother, where he tells his brother the simple secret: "I saved nothing for the swim back." There's the scene where he must suffer brutal surgery in order to be the right height. And of course, throughout the movie, the constant tension of always having to be perfect, perfect, perfect--not even an eyelash out of place. As story telling and inspiring goes, they don't get too much better than Gattaca. And you have to give a thumbs up to the actors, and the music was spot on perfect too. The cast was well chosen, and all the scenes. It's not only great storytelling, it's a work of art.

I don't know why I waited so long to see Gattaca, the blurb on the box just didn't reach out and grab me, but after seeing Dark City, I decided to take a chance on this movie too, and I'm glad I did. Gattaca is like the thinking man's sci-fi, some of the possible mixed with some of the improbable, but wrapped up in such a way that you find yourself just accepting it, because you're drawn along on the story, and you don't really want to quibble over all the details. Ethan Hawke plays an in-valid(a natural born), who desires to go to space, but never will because he wasn't born a valid, one whose genes have been altered so that he will be perfect. This setback doesn't stop him though, and through the help of a valid, portrayed by Jude Law, who was paralzyed by a car accident, he sets out to fool the top of the elite at the space company Gattaca, into thinking he is one of them. The premise is an unusual one, but it works, because we are able to believe in the ability of Hawke to carry this masquerade off. Most of all the actors do a fine job here, I was impressed by Ethan Hawke's portrayal of the main character. Jude Law, an actor I usually don't care for, also does an impressive job as the valid who doesn't really believe Hawke can carry this off, since he himself, a genetically altered man slated to win the gold medal in swimming at the olympics, could only win the silver. It wouldn't be fair to mention the two men without also mentioning Uma Thurman, an actress I generally don't care for either, but who does a very good job in this movie. While I followed the flow of most of the movie, and could see the possibility of gene altering becoming feasible in the near future, the biggest problem I had with the movie was the investigation that took place after the murder take place in Gattaca. The police seemed to be able to do whatever they wanted, stop anyone anywhere, and test their DNA. It was never stated that in addition to science progressing so far that citizens had also lost some of their basic rights, and that the authorities were allowed to go anywhere they wanted and test anyone they felt like. This seemed like the only real weak link in the story to me, but I let it slide since I was enjoying the overall aspect of the movie. So, at the very least I recommend that you rent this movie, and see for yourself how good it is. I ended up buying it after I saw it, and if you're anything like me, I think you'll do the same.

This thrilling movie from 1997 was giving us glimpses of how we could be checked when genetics' benefits and manipulations would continue at a fast pace as it was trending at that time. Would you like to let yourself be warned about your genetical shortcomings and then take a risk to be genetically modified? Check the movie and ponder about it. Now the so called artificial intelligence overtook that baton. But it is actually the thrilling mystery more than anything else. The future environment and science fiction are just the frame. For me it was quite coincidental and ironic, that my wife and I decided to see this movie in the day when US House of Representatives voted to kill the bill requiring to stop warrantless surveillance and searches of our homes by security agencies in the bipartisan action. So the FISA act shall continue. This visionary movie is for me about not so distant future, perhaps even about present, when all about us is already digitalized, known and ready for use by the powerful, often not even elected. So you all rather behave, people! But this wonderful movie picture is also about the determination, persistence and the life dream manifestation of a man whose genetics predisposed him to have no chance. That is what I loved about this, because I can deeply relate to the story. I also manifested and lived my life dream. I have to admit that I was thinking in the middle of it that it was a story about a cheater. My wife is both, puzzles and mysteries aficionado and she help me to get out of it. The exciting story twists accelerate toward the end. She again impressed me by correctly predicting perhaps the biggest one.

Good movie if you can keep up. Very in depth and have to pay attention. A little romantic thriller.

Nada que reprochar, transferencia, steelbook, muy bien. A mí manera de ver gran película de ciencia ficción!

>>> ZUM FILM <<< Andrew Niccol zeichnet in GATTACA eine Welt, in der nicht mehr die soziale Herkunft oder Bildung über die Chancen entscheiden, die ein Individuum in einer Gesellschaft hat, sondern allein die genetischen Anlagen eines Menschen. Aussehen, Intelligenz, die Veranlagung zu Krankheiten, etc, alles kann in GATTACA auf Wunsch der werdenden Eltern von Ärzten zum Vorteil des Nachwuchses beeinflusst werden - oder, wie in Vincents (Ethan Hawke) Fall, einfach dumm gelaufen sein, da er auf herkömmlichem Wege gezeugt wurde... Auf dieser Basis entwickelt sich eine spannende Handlung, die Fragen wie die Genetik und Genmanipulation anspricht und die Frage aufwirft, wie wohl eine Gesellschaft funktionieren würde, in der der Mensch Gott spielt. Man sieht vornehmlich sehr schöne Menschen mit perfekten genetischen Anlagen. In einer perfekten Welt, die sauber ist und offenkundig perfekt funktioniert. Das System lässt keine Irrtümer zu, ein einmal gefälltes genetisches Urteil ist endgülig und entscheidet darüber, ob man als Mitglied der genentischen Elite ganz oben mitspielen darf - oder ob man als Mitglied einer Putzkolonne den Dreck der geistigen Elite wegräumen muss. Ober- und Unterschicht nur voneinander getrennt durch den genetischen Code, der in jedem von uns steckt. Hier macht uns Andrew Niccol vom unbeteiligten zum beteiligten bzw. betroffenen Zuschauer. Wie weit waren wir zum Zeitpunkt des Erscheinens von GATTACA (1997) von einer solchen Gesellschaft entfernt und wie nahe sind wir ihr heute? Das ist sicher keine leicht zu beantwortende Frage aber eine Frage, die berechtigt gestellt werden darf. Denn ich bin überzeugt davon, dass der Mensch die ihm von der Natur gesetzten Grenzen immer wieder übertritt und weiter übertreten wird. Wohin das führen kann? Genau das zeigt uns "Gattaca". Ein wirklich faszinierender und extrem spannender Film, bei dem man gerne mit Vincent mitfiebert, um zu verfolgen, ob er das System überlisten kann. >>> ZUR BLU-RAY <<< GATTACA war Anfang 1998 die erste DVD überhaupt, die ich mir gekauft habe. Der Film hatte mir zuvor im Kino sehr gefallen. Und als der Film auf Blu-Ray erschien, war klar, dass ich den Film erneut kaufen würde. Die Blu-ray enttäuscht nicht und vor allem ist im Vergleich zur alten DVD sehr deutlich, wie sehr die Blu-ray- der DVD-Fassung überlegen ist. Sowohl beim Bild (Sichtung auf einem 50 Zoll-Display) als auch beim Ton (Dolby TrueHD, gehört mit einem 7.1-Set) liegen geradezu Welten zwischen den beiden unterschiedlichen Formaten! Aber auch wer den Vergleich nicht ziehen kann, dürfte mit dem Bild sehr zufrieden sein. Zwar ist das Bild nicht perfekt aber für einen HD-Genuss allemal aureichend. Die Extras sind interessant. Allerdings bin ich jemand, der sich sehr gerne Audiokommentare anhört. Hier wird der interessierte Käufer leider enttäuscht. >>> FAZIT <<< Der Film zeigt eine beunruhigende Zukunftsvision, von der ich persönlich glaube, dass es nicht die Frage ist ob, sondern nur, wann sie eintreten wird. Klare Kaufempfehlung!

I enjoyed watching this movie. It's scenes, dialogues, settings are compact, strong. Particularly settings have a strange, deep effect on the viewer. It feels like entire movie is taking place on a simple science fiction theatre with no computerized widget & sound crowd. Darkish pastel colors dominate the scenes from start to end creating a mystical, cubical, logical suspense. Settings are simple, colors are basic, dialogues are short, sharp, and to the point; I would call it a piece of minimalist art. Movie is combination of fantasy and reality, like a real psychology story in a fantasy setting. It is a presentation power of will, envy, determination. Story takes place in a country where humans are grouped into two in terms of their genetic; VALID, and INVALID ones. And this culture is just normal and accepted by everyone. Valid ones are superior, and candidates for prime jobs. It is a story of the mind and the will of an invalid person. Vincent is the protagonist, and he is invalid and has a dream of being an astronaut participating in space missions. And his brother Anton is a valid one. Anton seems to lack passion for anything, eventually ending up being an crime investigator on police department. Vincent first starts working as a cleaner, help boy in a space station. Knowing that he has no chance of being astronaut, he still follows his dream, does the self study on the subject, and also physical training. Eventually he concludes that his efforts are worthless unless he has a valid blood. So he decides to fake his identity, scum the system with a valid one's identity. And he finds someone for that, Jerome. Jerome is a grandiose swimmer who became second in an international competition and he can not cope with the result psychologically. And he wanted to kill himself with a traffic accident, but he fails, and his body gets paralyzed. Jerome provides Vincent all necessary material like blood, urine, hair samples to pass regular controls. Eventually Vincent is accepted to Space mission program with the identify of Jerome. Administrator of the mission has suspicion on Vincent and he gets killed. And this murder is investigated by Anton. Anton gets suspicious on Vincent. While investigation is taking too long and jeopardizing the mission to Saturn, Director of the of the company confess that he killed the administrator because of risk of failing the mission. However It is never clear who killed the administrator. Anton implies that Vincent is fake, and his participation in the mission is a scum. So he invites him to do this swimming competition where they swim into the ocean until one gives up. They used to this while they were kids, and call it chicken game. In the test, Anton gives up; and on the return, he was going get drawn, but Vincent save his life. This clears the Anton hurdle for Vincent. He eventually gets into the ship to Saturn. Jerome leaves enough blood, hair samples for the rest of Vincent's life. This was a story of great Will, and fatality of grandiosity. The Will to overcome will to set the rules; even science, rationality are not perfect enough against human will. Hard logic presents weakness against the will which fluid , smart, and strong, and eventually it triumphs. Vincent's will finds support at all corners. His valid girlfriend helps him. The doctor who does the validity control helps him. Why? Because doctor's son admires the will of Vincent for the mission. So The Will flows and find it's way. Jerome is equally interesting character. Why does he participate in this scum? Does he hate the system? is this his revenge from the system? Or is it his own unstoppable grandiosity to make his name living forever strong? Or is it both, that is living in a system you hate while still want to be at the top. He kills himself when Vincent lifts off in the space ship. Actors are superb, their performance proves they were the right choice for the movie: Ethan Hawke (Vincent), Uma Thurman (Irene), Jude Law (Jerome)

Une excellente dystopie avec des acteurs extraordinaire. Je recommande fortement ce film à voir et à revoir

Un film assolutamente da non perdere: un poco al di fuori dei soliti schemi fantascientifici, un prodotto con contenuti più sottili, attori assolutamente azzeccati, e regia impeccabile. Una trama che si svolge con calma, con ruoli interpretati magistralmente e assolutamente diversi dai soliti standard fantascientifici. Un'attenzione maniacale al particolare, e alla ricostruzione di ambienti assolutamente "asettici". Tema: scambio di persone, "clonazione", controllo e invasione della privacy in stile 1984 e Big Brother... tutto legato ad aspetti sociologici e psicologici, ambientato in un futuro prossimo in cui sono emerse nuove lotte di classe tra chi è nato programmato geneticamente e chi è nato con un patrimonio genetico naturale. Il film è stato accostato al filone fantascientifico del biopunk. La psicologia dei personaggi è eccezionale: è possibile far nascere esseri umani con un corredo genetico quasi perfetto, selezionato dai genitori su di un gruppo di cellule embrionali. Tramite questo processo, si possono prevedere in anticipo le future condizioni fisiche e di salute dei nascituri tanto che, in definitiva, alcuni di loro vengono generati senza imperfezioni. Tramite l'analisi del sangue e delle urine, le aziende effettuano la ricerca di personale più consono al posto di lavoro, anche se questa pratica viene dichiarata, all'apparenza, illegale. In realtà, alla luce dei fatti la società risulta divisa in due categorie: validi, cioè esseri dal corredo genetico perfetto, che vengono scelti per ricoprire i ruoli più prestigiosi della comunità, e non validi, ovvero persone nate coi loro genomi naturali, da destinare allo svolgimento dei lavori più umili e relegate ai margini della vita sociale. Su queste premesse si costruisce la vicenda che racconta i sogni e le azioni di Vincent: concepito illegalmente -e per scelta dei suoi genitori- in maniera ancora naturale e senza l'intervento della scienza. Da non perdere: anche perchè la qualità audio/video del BD è altissima.