Gattaca - 10 stars out of 10

Gattaca - 10 stars out of 10

"Gattaca" takes sci-fi and turns it into reality.  No detail is left unexplained, from their use of solar energy to defeating a futuristic blood test.  As a pianist, listening to the variations on the Schubert Gb Impromptu made me say "It is not possible to play that on the piano..."  And then they explained that, too!  Genius.  This movie takes every classic plot and combines them in a futuristic context, from competitive brothers vying for the attention of their parents to a con artist with an impossible plan to an intense game of cat and mouse.  You'll even see the discrimination that has been present in our world for thousands of years, only in a mutated form.  The movie opens with a sequence designed to create confusion and curiosity and then proceeds to flashback for a 1/2-hour, telling this incredible story of sociological change in our world and creating an entirely believable context for the events that will transpire.  The acting is top notch.  I'm typically not a fan of Ethan Hawke, but I loved watching him in this role.  The same goes for Uma Thurman.  Add in the talents of Jude Law, Alan Arkin, Loren Dean, and Xander Berkeley as the doctor and you will believe every minute that you watch.  Michael Nyman's soundtrack is simple but tears at your heart with its beautiful themes, played only by strings and woodwinds.  I might even enjoy it as much as Thomas Newman's soundtrack to "Meet Joe Black" (I know, blasphemy).  Gattaca is completely based on emotion and after you've invested your heart into its dynamic characters, the incredible twists at the end will have you thinking about it for days.