Gattaca

Simply put, Gattaca is one of the greatest movies ever made. Some might think that's going too far but it truly is a masterpiece. Everything from the casting, set design, cinematography, writing and the Universe in which the story takes place. It is not only a great source of entertainment but an inspiring work of art. By far the most poetic movie I have had the pleasure of watching. Every line is elegiac and truly beautiful. It's the type of movie that keeps you thinking days after the credits have rolled. Not because it is fast-paced, intense or has a crazy twist ending but for its tranquil philosophical ideas. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a jaw-dropping movie night. It should be on every cinephile's list of must-watch.

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"Vincent" (Ethan Hawke) is determined that he wants to travel into space, but is deemed unsuitable by the genetically motivated authorities who decide these things. Luckily for him, he knows "Jerome" (Jude Law). He was in a nasty car accident that has left his paraplegic - but nonetheless, his genetics do qualify for the upper echelons of society necessary to go up in a rocket. The pair quickly establish a partnership by which the latter man develops some techniques to fool the detection devices and facilitate "Vincent" living out his dream. Just as that is set to come true, his boss is found dead in mysterious circumstances and the ensuing investigation could compromise the web of lies and identity fraud that 'Vincent" has carefully established over the years... I honestly can't say I rated the acting here as great by anyone, including Uma Thurman who comes into things later on in the day as a bit of love interest, but the pacing of this story and the underlying premiss of genetic gradation and selection is potently presented here by auteur Andrew Niccol. We are now living in a sterile society where people's merits are all based on their past rather than their potential. Assumptions are made based on whether you eat well, drink, smoke, have sex - almost as if you are accruing (or not) life points, not just for you but for future generations too! The production looks great in it's modern simplicity - even if there is what looked like an old Rover car used to ferry the investigator "Lamar" (Xander Berkeley) and a man who introduces another twist as we near the denouement. Will anyone make it to Titan?