Film Club: Gattaca

Watched this last night for the first time in many years. Seems just as likely/relevant today as it was 20 years ago. Of course the ending with "I didn't save anything for the swim back" has always stuck with me but I'd forgotten a lot of the other details of the movie. Like the symbolism of the staircase in several scenes. Also the fact that Tony Shalhoub is in it playing a serious character. I'm so used to him in comedy/quirky roles at this point. Andrew Niccol has re-used the exact visual scheme in other movies and I do like it, but I think he really nailed it the first time. This and maybe Lord of War are his two best movies by far. Anyone else have thoughts on it?

Gattaca is one of my favourite movies of all time, and keeps getting better each time I watch it. I have always thought it was similar to and superior to The Shawshank Redemption, and so have been bewildered that the latter is regarded as one of the best films ever made but Gattaca resides in obscurity.

Ancient_of_MuMu wrote: Gattaca is one of my favourite movies of all time, and keeps getting better each time I watch it. I have always thought it was similar to and superior to The Shawshank Redemption, and so have been bewildered that the latter is regarded as one of the best films ever made but Gattaca resides in obscurity.

Thoughtful sci-fi pretty much automatically makes it less appealing to a wider audience than an old-timey prison break.

Don't really see any similarities with Shawshank Redemption. Certainly the quality of the filmmaking and actors are equal though. I do think Shawshank's ending is more uplifting since Red doesn't set himself on fire. Which reminds me that I was wondering whether Vincent knew that Jerome was going to kill himself. It seemed obvious but he didn't say anything and I felt their "friendship" warranted at least a few words against it.

I appreciate that Gattaca tells an intelligent story, and does it well. But I have never felt like watching it again.

This film is in my top 10. I love everything about it, especially the music. It also made Ethan Hawke one of my favorite actors.

You could certainly say that the plot relies a bit too much on coincidence, but I can look past that.

Lord of War is also a good film, but nowhere near this movie.

The comparison to Shawshank is that fundamentally both are about someone refusing to give up and retaining hope in spite of overwhelming odds.

I guess my only problem with this movie is Ethan Hawke. He's a good actor, but his range is a bit limited. He can't seem to access the section of the emotional spectrum involving happiness and laughter. I'm not saying that either of those emotions belonged in Gattaca, just that Hawke brings an unrelenting grim to his every role.