"Lacks heart...a poor substitute for Blade Runner."
Set in the not-too-distant-future, Gattaca tells the story of Vincent, a young man relegated to outcast status in a society that genetically engineers its population in order to achieve maximum results. Unfortunately for Vincent, he wasn't conceived as such. Instead, he came to be in the old-fashioned way.For the Gattacans, anyone born in this fashion is a faith child, someone at the throw of life's fickle dice. In contrast, those who are genetically engineered are virtually guaranteed more beautiful bodies, sharper eyesight, superior intelligence, longer life spans and a job. In this world Vincent is an In-Valid.
Vincent, however, desperately wants to prove that his destiny lies on one of Saturn's moons. This single-minded ambition leads him to the DNA black market, where he buys himself a very different identity.
There's a catch, though. Everything and everyone at Gattaca is screened via blood samples, urine and even skin, from which a DNA Id can be verified. Vincent must therefore continually acquire these from the person whose identity he has taken on. Thus Jerome, genetically engineered to be the best but now in a wheelchair, moves into his apartment providing, for a handsome cash sum, body fluids in abundance. Somehow (of course) Vincent manages to become Gattaca's top navigator but a gruesome murder places him in jeopardy, particularly when one of his eyelashes is found near the scene prompting authorities to suspect an In-Valid of the crime.
A strong premise indeed, but Gattaca manages to blast-off not with a bang, but with a whimper. Despite it's stunning production design, the movie lacks heart and what could have been an intelligent exploration into a complex issue is transformed into a poor substitute for Blade Runner.
Uma as the love interest adds nothing to this film, nor does Gore Vidal as Gattaca's director.Gattaca should have taken some of its own medicine - a little genetic engineering with the script could have gone a long way. ---Paul Garcia
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