Gattaca

Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Ethan Hawke	Vincent Freeman
Uma Thurman	Irene Cassini
Jude Law	Jerome Eugene Morrow
Gore Vidal	Director Josef
Xander Berkeley	Dr. Lamar
Jayne Brook	Marie Freeman
Elias Koteas	Antonio Freeman
Maya Rudolph	Delivery nurse
Una Damon	Head nurse
Elizabeth Dennehy	Preschool teacher
Alan Arkin	Detective Hugo
Loren Dean	Anton
Chad Christ	Young Vincent
William Lee Scott	Young Anton

Director	Andrew Niccol
Producer	Danny DeVito; Michael Shamberg
Writer	Andrew Niccol

Confidently conceived and brilliantly executed, Gattaca had a somewhat low profile release in 1997, but audiences and critics hailed the film's originality. It's since been recognised as one of the most intelligent science fiction films of the 1990s. Writer-director Andrew Niccol, the talented New Zealander who also wrote the acclaimed Jim Carrey vehicle The Truman Show, depicts a near-future society in which one's personal and professional destiny is determined by one's genes. In this society, "Valids" (genetically engineered) qualify for positions at prestigious corporations, such as Gattaca, which grooms its most qualified employees for space exploration. "In-Valids" (naturally born), such as the film's protagonist, Vincent (Ethan Hawke), are deemed genetically flawed and subsequently fated to low-level occupations in a genetically caste society. With the help of a disabled "Valid" (Jude Law), Vincent subverts his society's social and biological barriers to pursue his dream of space travel; any random mistake--and an ongoing murder investigation at Gattaca--could reveal his plot. Part thriller, part futuristic drama and cautionary tale, Gattaca establishes its social structure so convincingly that the entire scenario is chillingly believable. With Uma Thurman as the woman who loves Vincent and identifies with his struggle, Gattaca is both stylish and smart, while Jude Law's performance lends the film a note of tragic and heartfelt humanity.--Jeff Shannon