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Gattaca
1997
In the 21st century, genetic engineering makes possible the creation of biologically superior human specimens ("valids"), who then grow to positions of power and prestige. Would-be astronaut Vincent(Ethan Hawke) born the old-fashioned way, can only hope for a janitorial position at the elite Gattaca Corporation--until he buys .. Read more
| Starring | Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Alan Arkin |
|---|---|
| Director | Andrew Niccol |
| Genres | Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
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Gattaca
In the 21st century, genetic engineering makes possible the creation of biologically superior human specimens ("valids"), who then grow to positions of power and prestige. Would-be astronaut Vincent(Ethan Hawke) born the old-fashioned way, can only hope for a janitorial position at the elite Gattaca Corporation--until he buys the blood, urine, and identity of a perfect but paralyzed athlete. But a murder in the company's ranks attracts the attention of a detective who threatens to sniff Vincent out. A slick futuristic thriller. Academy Award Nominations--Best Art Direction.
| Starring | Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Alan Arkin, Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Elias Koteas, Gore Vidal, Blair Underwood, Elizabeth Dennehy, Dean Norris, Xander Berkeley, Mason Gamble, Tony Shalhoub, Lindsey Lee Ginter, William Lee Scott, Ca |
|---|---|
| Director | Andrew Niccol |
| Studio | UCA |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 42 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | German |
| Subtitles | DVD: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 16 Feb 1999 Production year: 1997 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Before screenplay writer Andrew Niccol stood the science-fiction genre on its head with The Truman Show, he had already shaken it up with this engrossing futuristic thriller (which he also directed), built around the controversial subject of genetic engineering and how it might lead to a socio-economic class divide. Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) is the imperfect human with ambitions of joining a space mission, who illegally exchanges identities with Jerome (Jude Law), a paraplegic with perfect DNA. How he does this armed with blood and urine samples is ingeniously shown by Niccol, who mints a new genre vocabulary with his absorbing, intelligent and suspenseful story. In Niccol's future society a dustbuster is deadlier than a gun and wearing contact lenses means the choice between life or death. This thought-provoking cautionary tale is stunningly designed and has accomplished performances from Hawke, Law and Uma Thurman that do it full justice
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In the future, geneticists will design test-tube babies to be disease-free. Physical perfection will become the norm,... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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22 out of 27 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Very convincing!
Great subject matter and there's a twist or two in this cautionary tale.
Not overly into Sci-Fi but this one's cool. Good cast, acting and direction holds your attention. The three leads; Hawke, Thurman and Law are excellent.
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- younglochinvar from Prestatyn
- Posted 22 Sep 2007 17:10
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Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Lovely movie this was, an example of how a strong spirit can achieve more than a strong body or mind if one has the will power. The movie is set in a time where your life expectancy can be determined immediately after you've been born, genetically, using blood tests (It's possible!!). Vincent (Ethan hawkes) was destined for heart disease after his parents left his fate to God rather than science, they didn't make the same mistake for their second son who they had genetically engineered. Vincent spends his whole life with an inferiority complex toward his brother and the world. He is trying to climb through a glass cieling, he can't break through because of his heart condition. Eventually, he finds a crack and gets his dream job by assuming the identity of someone genetically superior to him, Jerome (Jude Law) who is only too willing to let him for the right price. Using Jerome's identity, Vincent is finally offered a chance to travel to Titan which he believes is his destiny. But he is threatened with exposure when there is a horrible murder commited in the office, 'Gattaca' offices. However, all movies need to be viewed with a certain objectiveness and when a police chief and an astronaut are settling their (serious) differences with a late night game of chicken in the sea, this to me is a little implausable. But it is only a movie and that particular sequence carries great significance as well as producing one of the best lines of the film.
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News and features
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Hawke to star in, direct and write new movie
- 10 Feb 2006
Renaissance man Ethan Hawke is to direct a film starring himself, written by himself and based on his own novel. The Hottest State will not be the Gattaca and Training Day star's debut behind the camera, after directing Chelsea Walls, which featured Uma Thurman, Natasha Richardson and Kris Kristofferson. Lining up in front of the camera alongside Hawke in the new movie will be Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace), Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain) and Laura Linney (Mystic River).... Read more
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Gattaca
In the 21st century, genetic engineering makes possible the creation of biologically superior human specimens ("valids"), who then grow to positions of power and prestige. Would-be astronaut Vincent(Ethan Hawke) born the old-fashioned way, can only hope for a janitorial position at the elite ...
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