Imagine living in a society where discrimination begins before birth, where your genetics determine whether you live a life of prosperity or a life in the gutter. In 1997, Andrew Niccol explored the future of our society where genetic perfection rules all. In Gattaca, Vincent Freeman, a genetic degenerate, assumes the identity of Jerome Eugene Morrow, the picture of genetic perfection, to gain access into the Gattaca space program. Vincent’s dream was to travel to Jupiter before his heart was scheduled to stop; Jerome, who is paralyzed from the waist down, allows the use of his perfect identity to help Vincent achieve his dream.
Acting/Characters
Ethan Hawke gives a brilliant performance as Vincent Freeman. Hawke shows the pain of a person cursed with the “genetic defect” of being what we consider a normal born child. His dedication to the role is seen through Vincent’s dedication and drive at stopping at nothing to travel to Jupiter. Vincent is cunning in his disguise as Jerome Morrow making sure to clean and dispose of every hair and nail that may reveal his true identity thus derailing his lifelong dream.
Jude Law as the real Jerome Morrow is an amusing character allowing Vincent to use his identity to pose as genetic perfect. Though he is often drunk and babbling about how much of an amazing person he use to be, deep inside Jude allows us to see Jerome’s serious and vulnerable side.
Irene Cassini is the lover of Vincent and is played by Ethan Hawke’s past real life love Uma Thurman. Irene is sort of a cold character, but this is made so by her environment which disallows her (not as genetically perfect as she may seem) to be and love who she wants. She falls in love with Vincent posing as Jerome and is shocked yet memorized when she finds his true identity.
Script
Unlike most other first time screen writers, Andrew Niccol’s Gattaca script was beyond brilliance. He takes us in deep at the very beginning of the film during Vincent’s birth. Vincent’s father refuses to name his first born son after himself as his name would be tainted by Vincent’s genetic deformities.
We are taken along with Vincent through his childhood where his is out-shinedGattaca physically by his younger brother and shunned by his parents. The emotion digs even deeper as Vincent is denied job after job because of his poor genetics. He ends up as a janitor cleaning the ins and outs of the Gattaca building. It seems he will never travel into space even though the very building he cleans specializes in space travel.
Niccol finally gives us hope as Vincent decides to take on Jerome Morrow’s identity which is considered illegal in their society. Succeeding at literally becoming Jerome Morrow, Vincent is finally given the chance to travel through space as he is accepted into the Gattaca space program. But before he gets his chance, Niccol hits us again with a major stumbling block for Vincent – murder at Gattaca.
Niccol continues to engage us as Vincent and Irene fall in love, and Vincent tries to conceal his true identity as detectives (including his own younger brother) rummage through Gattaca trying to find the murderer. Niccol gives us intense romance and thrill in this science fiction drama that once you've seen, it will never be forgotten.
It’s quite obvious I am in love with this film. It came out when I was only seven years old. I remember hearing Michael Nyman’s brilliant score and remembering it up until I was about fifteen years old when I finally saw Gattaca in full. It’s a shame Nyman didn’t win best score back in 1998. If you want a look into the future of our society ruled by genetics, check out Gattaca. You won’t be disappointed.
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