Gattaca (1997)

[sholio]

I rewatched Gattaca last night for the first time in years, and yep, except for That One Thing at the end (I'm sure anyone who's seen the movie knows exactly what) it's still one of my all-time favorites, as well as the movie that originally sold me on Jude Law back in the '90s. Although all I can think now is how incredibly young he is. He's a BABY! His face looks so unformed! It's really wild watching it now, because he's just a few years older than me, and I saw this movie around the time it originally came out - probably just a year or two later - so obviously he didn't look that young to me then, because I was ALSO A BABY. I am also having a certain amount of trouble wrapping my mind around the idea that Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman's daughter is all grown up now (she's Robin in Stranger Things).

But yeah, the movie is still lushly beautiful, and thematically very much my kind of thing. As much as I hated Jerome's ending and still do, I can't deny that it was set up from the opening scene with Vincent in the incinerator. This movie is so intricately constructed; it's one of those movies where you keep noticing new things and seeing new ways that even seemingly random details fit into the bigger picture. (The DNA-helix staircase!) I still want my happy OT3 ending though, dammit.

I went looking for deleted scenes on Youtube for the first time ever, and now I really wish they'd kept two of the ones that got cut, the one with Vincent's former boss from his janitor days, and the one with Anton and the detective. The final cut of the movie seems to have gone for a cooler, less emotional tone overall (there's a version of the script floating around out there with a warmer goodbye between Vincent and Jerome, too, including a hug) but I feel like both of these scenes would've given closure to those characters' emotional storylines - the janitor in particular feels like a dangling loose end, and both of these scenes underscore the movie's general themes of people connecting with each other, and helping each other, and being more - and sometimes less - than the sum of their genes.

And also, it's simply a gorgeous movie, with a limited color palette and a very unusual retro-future 1950s aesthetic. I noticed watching it this time that the deliberately retro sets and clothes and cars also make the now-dated 1990s computer tech and lack of cell phones seem less jarring - because it's all like that, and it simply fits in with the overall blend of advanced tech and retro stylings. The movie feels timeless, in a way, like it's floating in time instead of being anchored in either the time it was made or the time it's supposed to be set in (whenever that is).

Comments

[sovay]

the movie that originally sold me on Jude Law back in the '90s.

I had much more mixed feelings about Gattaca when I rewatched it in 2017, but the majority of my positive feelings are still about Jude Law. It was my introduction to him. I'll have to check out the deleted scenes.

I am also having a certain amount of trouble wrapping my mind around the idea that Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman's daughter is all grown up now

I had no idea they'd even reproduced!

[yalumesse]

I haven't watched this movie in years. It was one of those ones they made us analyse to death in English class so I avoided it for ages out of spite, but it was too good to hold a grudge forever. I feel like rewatching it again now. Thanks! :)

[lunabee34]

I have never seen this movie but you are making me want to.

[chelseagirl]

I often teach that in my senior seminar. I'd worried it might not have aged well, at least for folks who (in the last few years, anyway) weren't *cough* alive when it came out, but they respond in interesting and thoughtful ways.

[ellenmillion]

I'm going to have to do a re-watch! It's been ages.

[snickfic]

I used to love this movie so much, though I haven't seen it in ages. I have always been a sucker for aesthetic, so the retrofuturism was definitely one of my favorite parts. I too would love to read fic of the OT3!

[leesa_perrie]

I remember loving this movie when it came out, mainly because it wasn't a run of the mill sci-fi movie (as much as I love them, it's nice to have a change now and then). I haven't rewatched it, it's rare for me to do that tbh, with the odd exception. I do wonder if I'd love it as much now as I did back them, but can't see me rewatching it anytime soon.

[bironic]

>>Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman's daughter is all grown up now (she's Robin in Stranger Things).

Did not know! Neat!

[aelfgyfu_mead]

That's one of relatively few movies that I've watched twice! The last time was some years back, but it left an impression. I love the visuals. I do not love Jerome's last scene, even though they prepared for it and I was afraid it was coming.

Not only is Maya Hawke an adult, Scott Simon interviewed her on NPR this morning about her debut album! That blew my mind.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

And thanks for sharing the deleted scenes! I just watched them; I didn't even know there were any.

[saphirablue]

hat Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman's daughter is all grown up now (she's Robin in Stranger Things).

Are you serious? OMG. /o\ Things like this bring it home so much how much time has passed...

And, I loved this movie. I didn't see it in the cinema but later on TV and I was mesmerized by the storyline. I don't know if it would hold up for me but if Netflix has it (again) some day, I'll try. :)