Gattaca (1997)

In the not-too-distant future, parents no longer have to risk that their kids will be born with defects, the possibility of genetic disease, or even chubbiness. A child is still a product of the parents, but their fertilized embryos are screened for potential problems before being implanted. However, some children are still conceived naturally and aren't quite so flawless. With all that perfection at the ready, an employment caste system evolves. I mean, it just makes sense: why hire someone with a heart condition or the possibility of a nervous breakdown for a prestigious position? Our hero Vincent is one of the natural guys, but he has aspirations far beyond his genetics... and that's where a recently paralyzed but otherwise genetically superior Jerome comes in.

The world is believable: e.g. instead of Googling a love interest, you can just run a DNA profile. It also looks great and is beautifully acted -- especially Jude Law as a bitter Jerome. But I do think that Vincent's voice-over is just a little too mannered. The future seems like a pretty joyless place and I get that a blasé attitude is necessary for his ruse to work, but why would it carry over into the narration? At least in that aspect of the film, Vincent should've been able to convey the enthusiasm he was being forced to hide. The sterility of the film becomes overwhelming without any break from the control.

B