Imagine a world with genetic testing so refined that parents can order children to specification, where a person’s whole life is mapped out at birth by a prick of the finger, and where everything is determined by the markers in your blood. This is the future.
Ethan Hawke stars as Vincent, a genetically imperfect man conceived in the back of a Chevy rather than in a doctor’’s lab. Because of his DNA, he’s relegated to inferior status, doomed to be a janitor for the rest of his life. But Vincent has dreams. For as long as he can remember, he’s been fascinated by space travel. Despite what he’s been told, he determines to be an astronaut and work for the futuristic space agency, Gattaca.
Even in a genetically-engineered seemingly perfect world, accidents happen. Genetic-superstar Jerome, played by an extremely convincing and talented Jude Law, gets hit by a car and becomes paraplegic. No longer able to fulfill his predestination or make a living, the only commodity he has left is his genetic makeup. He makes a deal with Vincent to assume his identity. He stores blood, hair, skin and other samples to fool the biometric identifiers, and Vincent is made over to be physically as close as he can to Jerome. But they must be ever-vigilant to protect their secret.
A murder at Gattaca threatens to expose Vincent’s deception. It’s his genetically-engineered brother, Anton, serving as lead detective. The brother who bested him at everything throughout his life and whom he hasn’t seen in a decade now threatens to best him once again. It’s a good sub-plot. The race against time is on. Will Anton find the murderer and expose Vincent, or will the shuttle to Saturn leave earth carrying Vincent/Jerome first?
Gattaca is the struggle of the individual to fight against labels, and to overcome what others have predetermined for him. It’s a great message. And it’s delivered in an interesting, suspenseful, and intelligent way.
Julie’s Rating: 4 stars
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Cautions: There are a couple of instances of implied sexuality (nothing overt), but they were over my children’s heads. There is also a scene with blood at the murder, a suicide (not graphic), and Jerome occasionally swears.
Appropriate for: Teens to watch with their parents