Science fiction is known for dreaming up futuristic scenarios that challenge modern ideas, but one sci-fi masterpiece was just too smart for its own good. Since the dawn of filmmaking, science fiction has offered filmmakers a chance to push the boundaries of what’s possible on screen. Even in the silent era, sci-fi was not an uncommon genre.
However, as the technology of cinema progressed, so too did science fiction films. When the nuclear age began in the wake of WWII, sci-fi became speculative and played on the fears of a populace who had seen what new technology could do. It wasn’t all bad, and some sci-fi aimed to show what a promising future lay ahead.
The trouble with heady ideas is that they can leave the audience behind. Every era has had films that were just a bit too ahead of their time, and even masterpieces can get lost in their own speculation. One such example was among the best sci-fi films of the ’90s, but isn’t as well-remembered because it was just too smart.
Gattaca Is A Hidden Masterpiece Of A Sci-Fi Movie
A Sci-Fi Gem With A Lot Of Clever Ideas
The 1990s were a heyday for science fiction films, and there was a diverse range of films from action epics to the more understated pieces like Gattaca. The 1997 movie stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, and involves a man who purchases clean genetics in order to go to space, only to get wrapped up in a murder investigation.
The visuals were understated and subtle, and Gattaca was a stark departure from the over-the-top designs of most ’90s science fiction films. Modern sci-fi masterpieces clearly took a page from the hidden gem, and have adopted a similar approach to production design. Nevertheless, the rigid architecture used in the film serves to accentuate what’s happening with the characters.
it also has a compelling plotline that doesn’t just rely on the depth of its themes to carry things forward.
Gattaca‘s story succeeds because it doesn’t just introduce clever ideas, it actually explores them in detail. The movie makes a lot of commentary about the idea of genetic determinism, and takes swipes at ableism in modern society. However, it also has a compelling plotline that doesn’t just rely on the depth of its themes to carry things forward.
Gattaca’s Cleverness Makes It A Challenging Movie To Fully Invest In
It Can Often Feel Emotionally Cold & Distant
One of the biggest reasons the ’90s sci-fi film has been forgotten is that it was just a bit too cold. It’s jam-packed with amazing ideas that explore every corner of its themes, but the audience is sometimes left behind. There’s an obvious emotional core that could have been better, and there is a sterile quality to every scene.
Gattaca was nominated for Best Art Direction at the Academy Awards.
There’s so much going on that it lacks a focus, and while the plot is a positive, the final product struggles to balance all of its disparate elements. Gattaca got excellent reviews, but it isn’t held in high regard because it, ironically, lacks a human element. Science fiction is supposed to be progressive, but it can’t get too far ahead.
