Screening Room

New Zealand-born writer-director AndrewNiccol built his career on thoughtful dramas with science-fictionelements, such as Jim Carrey’s “The Truman Show,” inwhich a man spends his entire life on TV (when the movie was releasedin 1998, reality-television had yet to become omnipresent), or “S1m0ne,”which involves a director (Al Pacino) who uses digital technology tocreate a superstar beauty to replace a temperamental star (WinonaRyder).

This week, Niccol returns to familiar ground with “InTime,” a thriller set in a future society that caters almostexclusively to the wealthy, who can purchase immortality; the aginggene freezes up around age 25, allowing those who can afford it toextend their youth indefinitely. The film stars Justin Timberlake,Amanda Seyfried, Alex Pettyfer, Cillian Murphy and Olivia Wilde.

The release of “In Time” is a perfect opportunity to lookback on Niccol’s debut film, 1997’s “Gattaca,” which starred EthanHawke, Uma Thurman and a then barely known actor named Jude Law.Although the film was not a commercial success at the time, it hassince found an international  following.(A few years ago, I was stunned to find my favorable “Gattaca” reviewhad been translated into German by the owner of a “Gattaca” fansite.)

Like “In Time,” “Gattaca” envisions a world in whichhealth and yourthfulness are prized above everything else. The propergenetic make-up determines your destiny, and parents are willing to payplenty for designer genes to ensure that their children live long,active and comfortable lives.

Those unlucky enough to be "natural births" — such asHawke’s character, Vincent, the product of his parents’ romanticgetaway on what’s known as "the Detroit Riveria" — run the risk ofbeing labelled "in-valid," a title that guarantees a career in cleaningup after the prized and privileged. While Vincent dreams of being anastronaut, he was born with impaired vision and a 99 percent chance ofheart disease; his father, who has a clear vision of what life holds instore for Vincent, warns him that "the only way you’ll see the insideof a spaceship is if you’re cleaning it."

So Vincent infiltrates Gattaca, the training ground forastronauts, by passing as a "valid" — thanks to blood, urine, skin cellsamples and hair clippings provided by Jerome (Law), a genetic marvelwho was paralyzed in an accident. Ultimately, Vincent’s masquerade willbe jeopardized by a murder investigation and by his growing attractionto Irene (Thurman), a Gattaca staffer whose stunning beauty concealsinner weakness.

While technology has marched ahead — instant DNA analysismakes life much easier for police officers seeking suspects andemployers eager to know everything about workers — fashion has goneback to the Camelot years, which gives the picture a memorable lookthat’s simultaneously Tomorrowland and yesteryear. It’s also fun to seethe assortment of talent Niccol had in his cast: Where else will yousee novelist Gore Vidal, Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine and then-risingstars Maya Rudolph and William Lee Scott? 

Entertaining, suspenseful and even touching, “Gattaca”remains a fascinating, thought-provoking piece. It’s interesting torecall that Hawke and Thurman met on the set and married the followingyear; sadly, the marriage did not last — yet the cult status of“Gattaca” has endured.