GATTACA - DVD review

"There is no gene for the human spirit."
--"Gattaca" poster tagline

DNA (deoxy-ribonucleic acid) is the sequence of genetic code that is found in every living thing on Earth. Guanidine, Adenosine, Thymidine, and Cytidine are the names of the four nucleotides that form the basic building blocks of all DNA. Usually shortened to their first letters G, A, T, and C, a combination of the abbreviations of these nucleotides also happen make up the title of the highly acclaimed sci-fi film "Gattaca". Is this a coincidence? Hardly.

"Gattaca" was released in 1997, when the notion of gene manipulation and cloning were not only buzzwords used in science fiction novels and films but were also close to becoming a reality. Scientific progress in the field of genetics back in 1997 was apparent. Dolly the sheep was cloned a year earlier, and the Human Genome Project was well underway. With advances in genetics moving at warp speed, the vision of a society governed by the quality of one's genes no longer belongs in the realm of science fiction. The nightmare scenario about which privacy advocates have been warning us is on the verge of coming true in just a few years. How would you react when you are not judged by your actions but by what your genetic imprint says you might be able to accomplish? It's a scary thought indeed, and "Gattaca" confronts this ominous future head-on with its own version of a "utopian" society that is both pure and dark at the same time.

The idea behind "Gattaca" is deceptively simple. It is set in the not-too-distant-future, a time when human genetic engineering is prevalent and encouraged. A person's DNA is not only the single most important piece of identification but also a barometer of one's social status and "worth" to society. The local geneticist now plays the role of God and serves as a one-stop shop for prospective parents looking to procreate. Apart from mulling over mundane choices like the sex or the color of the eyes of the baby, parents can also request that specific genes (like ones for serious diseases and physical defects) to be "turned off". Granted, the union of a set of chromosomes from each parent may not yield the best possible genetic result, but this process ensures that only the best traits inherited from each parent are activated in the child.

As in any society, there are two sides to every coin. Conceiving a child with the help of science may be the most desirable and logical thing to do, but there are some who prefer to take a chance and let Mother Nature cast dice to decide their children's future. To be a child who is conceived the "natural" way would be like being born with a scientific scarlet letter already embedded in one's cells. It is a lifetime curse that is not removable by any means possible. As a result, the world of "Gattaca" is neatly divided into two halves: the genetically engineered and the "In-Valids". "In-Valids" (get it?) are hired for menial jobs, while the genetically "Valids" play the more important roles in society. As to be expected, the stage is now set for conventional wisdom to take a backseat and to let Mother Nature take the wheel on the road to redemption.

"Gattaca" tells the story of Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), a love child born with so many flaws in his DNA profile that he can get no further than being a part of the cleaning crew at Gattaca, a prestigious space missions corporation. Gattaca's admission requirements are extremely high with consideration only given to the genetically engineered. Ever since he was young, Vincent has always dream of traveling to the stars. In order to fulfill his dream, Vincent not only has to find a way to win admission into Gattaca's space program, but he also has to battle his own parents' propensity to favor his genetically superior younger brother, Anton. Vincent and his brother now find themselves standing on opposing sides in the constant struggle between the haves and the have-nots. The turning point for Vincent arrives when he surprisingly beat his brother in a swimming challenge that tests both their physical and mental abilities. Demonstrating a newfound determination to overcome his own self-doubts and society's lack of respect for others like him, Vincent sets off on his own to pursue his dream.

To put it simply, possessing superior genetic code is virtually a ticket to a better life. For those who are lucky enough to be blessed with high-quality genes, getting a lucrative-paying job is almost guaranteed. Official government policy states that discrimination against one's genes, called "genoism", is prohibited. However, no one takes this policy seriously, and it is common practice for employers to take an illegal peek into a prospective job applicant's DNA profile before even meeting him or her. Resumes can be manipulated, but your genes don't lie.

However, there are rare instances when some "Valids" are unable to fulfill their obligation to society, and their genetic identities become valued commodities for the unscrupulous--opportunities for identity switches. Jerome Morrow (Jude Law) finds himself in this sort of predicament. With an IQ and a life expectancy that are off the charts, Jerome is quite possibly the best of the best. Unfortunately for him, Jerome was crippled in a car accident and is definitely not in any physical condition to live up to his high potential. In order to carry on with his luxurious lifestyle, Jerome has to find someone to assume his identity. Through the services of an identity broker (played brilliantly, albeit briefly, by Tony Shalhoub), Jerome is matched with Vincent in this illegal venture.

In an elaborate deception scheme, the broker sets out to transform Vincent into Jerome. Every transformation has to be meticulously carried out. Remembering that DNA can be found in every single cell on the body, Vincent goes through a ritual cleansing everyday in order to remove excess skin cells and body hair that might betray his real identity. Faced with identity checks throughout the day, Vincent uses samples of Jerome's blood, urine, and skin cells to thwart them. Just in case someone wants to check up on Vincent's DNA profile covertly, Vincent also plants Jerome's hair and skin cells in various places throughout the Gattaca building.

After a few years of successful deception, Vincent is finally on the verge of having his dream come true. He is slated to fly on a mission to Titan, Saturn's largest moon, when something happens that puts his painstakingly created persona in jeopardy. The Mission Director at Gattaca is murdered, and suddenly, the whole place is crawling with cops searching for clues. Eventually, Vincent's DNA turn up in the sweep, and all his lies and deceptions are pushed to the brink of exposure. Vincent however, fights against this discriminatory system and tries his best to prove it wrong. While the murder mystery serves as a catalyst that threatens to unravel Vincent's deception, it fortunately doesn't sidetrack the main storyline from its intended course.

This clever scenario leads to the makings of a very taut thriller that is neither psychological nor action-oriented. Rather, "Gattaca" is a film that depends heavily on the acting and the script to propel the story forward without once turning to special effects for help. Many successful sci-fi films depend heavily on either blockbuster-size action sequences or horrific alien creatures that stalk and kill unfortunate human beings to enrapture audiences. While not denying the viability of such enterprises, I praise "Gattaca" for playing to a different set of expectations. Forget spectacular explosions as the movie relies on explosive performances from Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, and Uma Thurman (as Vincent's love interest). Forget menacing alien creatures as the theme of widespread state-sponsored discrimination is far more menacing and real than any monster will ever be. In a way, "Gattaca" could be termed an intellectual sci-fi film.

As the movie progresses, the Gattaca institute becomes a symbol of both the good and the ugly parts of this new social structure. An institution that embraces genetic engineering as a way of improving humanity, Gattaca also needs the non-enhanced in order to function, but it relegates the "In-Valids" to the status of second-class citizens. Towards the end of the film, a glimmer of hope emerges from this dark vision of the future, for Vincent's crusading spirit proves that any prejudicial notions can be overcome. Perhaps there isn't a scientific gene for the human spirit, but there certainly is one in our psyches.

Several aspects of "Gattaca" that stand head and shoulders above the rest are its impressive visuals, set designs, and musical score. When the world of "Gattaca" first unfolds, it is hard for me to decide whether I am watching an updated episode of the original "Twilight Zone" series or a Ralph Lauren-inspired movie. To tell you the truth, it is actually a pleasant combination of both. The cast is fashionably clothed in impeccable suits and dresses that convey 1950s chic, a pervasive theme throughout the movie. In keeping with this retro theme, the vehicles in the film resemble classic roadsters that have been updated to run silently on electricity instead of gasoline. The architecture and set designs are a sight to behold. Featuring smooth and metallic curved lines on almost every corner, Jan Roelfs's impressive interior designs create a world lacking any warmth but also maximizing the utilization of space. Outdoor sets are equally impressive, with wide-open spaces and hardly any clutter. As if to counter the cold interior, outdoor shots take on an intentionally warm, yellow glow. Add Michael Nyman's hauntingly beautiful musical score to this incredible mix, and you get one of the best combinations of audio and visual elements ever produced on film. Really, "Gattaca" oozes so much style that it would take a lot to peel your eyes and ears away from watching such a stunning production.

Credit must go to writer-director Andrew Niccol for creating an exceptional story and for his message-laden symbolic images. One such image is that of the spooky behavior of Gattaca's employees. They dress the same and walk zombie-like in single files, not even stopping once to acknowledge one another. As a metaphor, this bizarre behavior can be attributed to how Niccol tries to convey his vision of a single-minded society that has become so blinded by their own superiority that they consistently fail to see the potential of anyone outside of this system.

A Note About "Superbit" DVDs:
Columbia Tri-Star (owned by electronics giant Sony) has been offering a special line of DVDs marketed with the "Superbit" brand. Basically, "Superbit" DVDs are encoded with a high bit-rate digital transfer process that seeks to optimize video and audio quality by using every available bit on a disc. Though the process requires the sacrifice of bonus materials due to a lack of space for them, the end results of "Superbit" DVDs are often stunning, to say the least. ("Superbit Deluxe" releases have extras on a second disc, and the "Superbit" edition of "Panic Room" does have a trailer and some text-based bonuses.)

Video:
Like its previous release on DVD, this "Superbit" edition of "Gattaca" presents the film in anamorphic widescreen with a ratio of 2.35:1. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the transfer is flawless, but one would be hard pressed to find any imperfections. Even with the big color contrasts between the interior and exterior scenes, the colors look natural and vibrant in both. All the images are sharp, detailed and well defined, proving once again that video transfers encoded at twice their normal bit rate do make a difference in producing a high quality print.

Audio:
Apart from the original Dolby Digital 5.1 track found on the previous DVD release, the "Superbit" edition also offers a DTS 5.1 track. For a film that puts more emphasis on dialogue than on sound effects, the surround channels are understandably under-utilized. Even then, some subtle effects are not totally lost and do get the surround treatment. Dialogue is crisp and clear without any drastic changes in volume. The superb musical score sounds rich and full, setting a tone that conveys the distinct emotional state of each scene.

When compared to the DD 5.1 soundtrack, the DTS mix seems louder and more forceful. However, bear in mind that, because of the way that DTS and DD tracks are encoded onto DVDs, DTS tracks often sound "louder" because they have been mixed with higher decibel ratings than comparable DD tracks. If you use sound meters to measure each speaker and then adjust your overall volume accordingly, then you'll find that DTS and DD tracks sound about the same when it comes to "loudness".

Subtitles are available in a wide variety of choices, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai.

Extras:
With most of the space on the disc devoted to the highest possible video and audio presentations, no extras are included.

--Miscellaneous--
A glossy insert provides chapter listings.

Entertainment Value:
How do I possibly begin to describe "Gattaca"? I can use words like awe-inspiring, magnificent, and stunning, but they don't seem to do justice, in my opinion, to the film's status as a science fiction classic. Undoubtedly one of my favorite films of all time, "Gattaca" certainly deserves more recognition and accolades than has gone its way. The public response to "Gattaca" at the box-office was underwhelming--it grossed a paltry $12.3 million in the US. For a film with such a thoughtful story and an inspiring theme, it is a real shame that there are many people who never got to see it the first time around. Therefore, make that trek to your local video store right now and rent "Gattaca" (or better still, buy it). You will definitely not regret it.