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Fascism" is a noun, which the Random House Dictionary defines as, "A totalitarian governmental system emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism." Sounds pretty crappy doesn't it? Despite its bleakness, fascism is one of the recurring themes of sci-fi and literature in general. You start with the worlds most respected fascist, Plato, and The Republic, all the way up to George Orwell's 1984. (And if don't know what the hell those are then you probably went to public school.)
Now, stay with me, here. I'm going somewhere with this.
Because the human race is ever changing, many of the bleak, fascist futures we predicted for ourselves have not come to pass. Obviously, the world of Orwell's 1984 isn't going to happen any time soon. Nor will a computer called Skynet cause a nuclear holocaust. The result of this is that we humans have to invent new bleak futures for ourselves. I really don't know why we do this, just a fascination with dark stuff I guess. I mean, the color that appears most on this site is black so hey. . .
And so that twisted rambling brings us to Gattaca. In this movie's future, the world is divided into to two social classes. Gone are the days where the color of your skin, content of your character, or content of you wallet, matter. Now, it's all in the genes. That's right, the human genetic code has been mapped and each new baby can be customized according to its parent's wishes. All imperfections are removed before you're even 8 cells wide. It's a perfect world filled with perfect people. But what about those who aren't perfect?
Well, even a perfect world needs janitors, right?
Into this world is born Vincent (Ethan Hawke). Despite everything he does, and all he excels at to accomplish his dream of becoming an astronaut, his genetic code just doesn't cut it and he winds up the janitor at Gattaca, which is this future's version of NASA. All seams lost for Vincent until he meats a Geneticist (Blair Underwood) who allows Vincent to share the identity of a crippled invetro-birthed human named Thomas (Jude Law). Thomas, his will to live shattered by the same car accident that took his legs, supplies the genetic materials necessary to pass genetic tests, and Vincent gets what he always dreamed of: a chance to go into space.
Until something goes wrong.
Said something is the murder of Gattaca's project director on the eve of an all-important mission to Titan, Jupiter's moon. When the cops find one of Vincent's natural eyelashes near the crime scene, he automatically jumps to the top of their suspect list. He's an invalid; he has to be guilty, right? Right?
Matters are complicated (of course) by our love story. Yes, even here we have a love story. Ya know, maybe its just me, but if I were going on a mission to Jupiter, I wouldn't really be looking for a long-term relationship. I mean, its not like you could make a collect call from our 6th planet to talk to your sweet heart. Or maybe you could. I probably would consider that this sweetheart looks like Uma Thurman. I'll be damned, it IS Uma Thurman.
Before we start with the usual proceedings let me tie this back to my little speech about fascism. The "he's invalid, he has to be guilty" attitude of our two cops is just one example of the prevailing discrimination in Gattaca. It's also an example of the culture's obsession with genes. Another would be a scene where a girl, having just kissed a guy, goes up to a booth. . .somewhere, and has a lab rat scrape genetic material off her lips with a cue-tip for testing. There's something just. . . I don't know. . .freaky about that prospect.
Then we see the job interviews. You don't need résumés anymore, just pee in the cup, we'll peek at your DNA and see if your the right man for us. I mean, doesn't that sound creepy to you? Good! Great! Science fiction is suppose to creep you out, not just because of what is happening on screen, but because of the possibility that it could happen. With the way genetics is advancing, I have little doubt that Gattaca could become a reality. I just hope I don't live to see it.
Okay, enough of that philosophical bullshit time for a movie review!
I can preach all I want about how classically sci-fi the backdrop for this story is, but when all is done and said it's just a backdrop. The real story is about the murder, Vincent's efforts to win Irene's (Thurman's) heart and keep his true identity secret from the public. That's all well and good, or it would be if it weren't for the fact that writer/director Andrew Niccol handles the gosh darned thing so poorly.
Gattaca might be the last place you would draw a parallel with Friday the 13th from, but they both have similar twists to their murder mysteries. In both movies, the actual murderer turns out to be the most underdeveloped character in the script. Unfortunatly, where Friday dropped misleading hints which made you point your finger at this character, or that character, Gattaca just lets the whole thing play out as a side story. The real story concerns Hawke and Thurman. And don't get me started on Thurman. . .
Too late. After ripping off Catwoman in Batman and Robin the actress formally known as Poison Ivy aliens replaced her with an emotionless automaton, sent to earth in human form to learn our ways and customs. If she wasn't, and that flat faced thing is really Uma, you sure as hell could have fooled me. Past the physical attraction I don't see how Vincent could fall for a woman who obviously has all the personality of the floor he's stepping on.
However, here comes the acting team of Hawke and Law to save us from total boredom. Vincent and Thomas have a real chemistry you can see develop as the movie goes on. You see that, Niccol? Or maybe Niccol wrote the part of Irene subtly, and Thurman dropped the ball. She does seam to have only two notches on the acting range: annoying and stone cold. It does help that Both Hawke and Law are the best actors in the cast. Even if they are a bit stuffy and British at times.
Now, incase you're getting mixed messages from me, I liked Gattaca. It's backdrop and story are truly a piece of work. Its romantic lead could be used as a piece of mason work. Is it for everyone? No. It's not for fans of kick your ass action. Or tear at your heart romance. If you're feeling adventurous you could give it a shot. It might surprise you.
RATING (OUT OF A POSSIBLE FIVE)