When I saw Gattaca at the Austin Film Festival over ten years ago I felt like I’d been hit over the head by a giant chunk of ice. I was wowed by both the film’s story and its form. Ten years later, I still love the look, but can not help poke some holes in the screenplay structure – some of the characterization, certainly. To be sure, I have exposed myself to a lot more sci-fi since then; maybe there isn’t enough of a wow factor at play here.
The look, though, the Italian Futurist meets Steampunk meets California Modernism….that is enough to keep you really engaged. Michael Nyman’s Glass-esque score (which you’ve heard many times, even if you’ve never seen the film) is a keeper as well.
It’s funny, because when this came out, followed by The Truman Show, it looked like Andrew Niccol was poised to be a major new voice in cinema. After Sim1one and Lords of War could it be that Niccol….hasn’t lived up to his potential?