The futuristic story of a genetically flawed man (Ethan Hawke) trying to succeed in a genetically perfect world is at times boring, but at other times very interesting. The battle of average Joe Blow versus the system is always intriguing.
Hawke plays Vincent, a man born the natural way. He's shunned by society for being flawed and imperfect. Anybody who is anybody is born through a test tube, all the flaws gone and supposed perfection remaining. Hawke does a decent job, but every time he's on screen it seems like he should be slacking off a little more. He always seems like the role model for all slackers and he hasn't shaken that yet.
The movie starts off real well then slumps until the last twenty minutes. Uma Thurman's whole roll should've been written out. She has almost nothing to do or say in Gattaca and she could've spent here time on a more satisfying project. Besides all I could think when she was on screen is "Man, she has big nostrils!"
Some people thought the swimming contests between Vincent and his genetically superior brother were silly. I thought they made the film. Something so low-tech to test the skills of people who think they are so high-tech is a nice touch.
Writer Andrew Niccol shows some real potential in the field of science fiction. Through in a bigger budget and we could have a winner coming real soon from Niccol. He needs better actors and just time to improve his craft.
Gattaca is an all right film. I could've left anytime during it and not felt I'd miss a film that was important. But it's a nice film that has some nice little touches of what hell our society seems destined to become. I give Gattaca a B-.
