In the coming seven days, Amazon Prime Video is set to bid farewell to several films and welcome a new batch of movies. Among the ones leaving, if there’s one Amazon Prime Video movie that you absolutely should watch before it goes, our recommendation for June would be “Gattaca“.
Andrew Niccol, both writer and director, imagined ‘Gattaca’ as a science fiction drama set in a future where humanity is divided into two classes: those who are genetically engineered for perfection and the “in-borns” or naturally conceived individuals.
1997 saw the debut of the film Gattaca, which initially underperformed financially with a domestic gross of $12.5 million. However, over the past three decades, the movie’s standing has significantly improved. It’s not just a box-office flop; in fact, Gattaca might be even more relevant in 2025 than it was during its initial release.
Ethan Hawke and Jude Law Give Fantastic Performances
In the movie, Ethan Hawke plays the role of Vincent Freeman, a person with a compromised status who is determined not to let his genetic makeup hinder him. Vincent harbors ambitious aspirations to become an astronaut, which could be thwarted if anyone were to uncover the truth about his genetic ancestry.
In the movie, Uma Thurman portrays Irene Cassini, who is the romantic interest of Hawke’s character, Vincent. She delivers an excellent performance in this role, and interestingly enough, she and Hawke were married in real life before their separation in 2005. However, the main relationship depicted in this film isn’t between Vincent and Irene or even Vincent and his distant brother, Anton Freeman (played by Loren Dean). Instead, it centers around Vincent and Jerome Eugene Morrow, portrayed by Jude Law.
Vincent relies on Jerome since he serves as a “stand-in,” enabling the former to chase his dream of traveling to space. Due to an accident, Jerome can no longer move freely, so he contributes his genetic material and identity for Vincent’s use. He must also grapple with the knowledge that his name will forever be linked to Vincent’s achievements instead of his own. The tension stemming from this resentment forms a subtext in their scenes, and they perform admirably by playing off each other effectively.
Law’s portrayal carries a sharp, resentful undertone, as if his character is boiling over with self-loathing and fury towards himself and everything around him. Yet, he remains committed to maintaining the façade that Vincent has crafted, willing to put both of them in potential legal jeopardy for its preservation.
In this film, Hawke assumes a significant burden, effectively playing the character of Vincent. He skillfully portrays Vincent’s unyielding ambition to accomplish something that others deemed impossible. Furthermore, he powerfully conveys Vincent’s fear when an overlooked eyelash could implicate him as a murder suspect.
Even the Small Roles Are Filled With Stars
In the movie Gattaca, Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law formed a powerful trio. However, it’s worth noting that even the secondary characters in this film were portrayed by actors who were already well-established or rapidly rising stars in Hollywood. Some of these talented individuals, such as Dean Norris from Breaking Bad, Maya Rudolph, a veteran of Saturday Night Live, and Blair Underwood from L.A. Law, didn’t even receive named characters in the film.
In addition to Ernest Borgnine, Xander Berkeley, Tony Shalhoub, and Alan Arkin, who all have minor roles, the movie’s most intriguing casting choice is writer Gore Vidal as Josef, the head of the space program. Vidal isn’t well-known for acting, but he perfectly embodied a man consumed by his mission. Together, these talented actors significantly enhanced the power of Gattaca.
Our Future Looks More and More Like ‘Gattaca’
As a lifestyle expert looking back at the year 1997 and the film Gattaca, I’d say that much of the genetic engineering portrayed in the movie seemed more like science fiction than reality. However, fast-forwarding to 2025, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the once far-fetched ideas presented in the film are no longer as outlandish as they once were. Although we haven’t fully realized genetic engineering’s potential in our everyday lives like the movie suggested, the future it envisioned may be closer to materializing than ever before.
In the movie Gattaca, Vincent’s story presents a more optimistic ending compared to what might occur in reality. Despite his supposed genetic disadvantages, he possesses the inner strength and abilities to overcome them. The film’s closing scenes suggest that his example inspires others like him, offering hope that those considered genetically inferior won’t always be treated as second-class citizens. It remains uncertain how genetic engineering will play out in our real world, but for now, we can keep our fingers crossed for a brighter future.
Gattaca is streaming on Prime Video until June 30.
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2025-06-28 16:53