IMDb > Gattaca (1997)
Gattaca
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Gattaca (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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Gattaca -- A genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   140,309 votes »
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Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Andrew Niccol
Writer (WGA):
Andrew Niccol (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Gattaca on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 October 1997 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
The Prisoner. His Cell. See more »
Plot:
A genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(602 articles)
Ethan Hawke talks about his surprise No. 1 movie, 'The Purge'
 (From EW.com - Inside Movies. 10 June 2013, 7:27 PM, PDT)
Ethan Hawke: playing all the angles
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 10 June 2013, 1:51 AM, PDT)
‘Getaway’, with Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez, releases its first trailer
 (From SoundOnSight. 5 June 2013, 5:50 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Thoughtful Science Fiction See more (575 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Ethan Hawke ... Vincent Freeman

Uma Thurman ... Irene Cassini

Gore Vidal ... Director Josef

Xander Berkeley ... Dr. Lamar

Jayne Brook ... Marie Freeman

Elias Koteas ... Antonio Freeman

Maya Rudolph ... Delivery Nurse
Una Damon ... Head Nurse

Elizabeth Dennehy ... Preschool Teacher

Blair Underwood ... Geneticist

Mason Gamble ... Vincent Freeman - Boy
Vincent Nielson ... Anton Freeman - Boy

Chad Christ ... Vincent Freeman - Teen

William Lee Scott ... Anton Freeman - Teen
Clarence Graham ... Personnel Officer

Ernest Borgnine ... Caesar

Tony Shalhoub ... German

Jude Law ... Jerome Eugene Morrow

Alan Arkin ... Det. Hugo

Carlton Bembry ... Gattaca Hoover (as Carlton Benbry)
Grace Sullivan ... Sequencing Customer

Ken Marino ... Sequencing Technician

Cynthia Martells ... Cavendish

Loren Dean ... Anton Freeman

Gabrielle Reece ... Gattaca Trainer
Ryan Dorin ... Twelve-Fingered Pianist

Dean Norris ... Cop on the Beat

Russell Milton ... Gattaca Detective
George Marshall Ruge ... Beaten Detective
Steve Bessen ... Blood Test Detective

Lindsey Ginter ... Mission Commander (as Lindsey Lee Ginter)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Dan Griffin ... Classmate (uncredited)

Beverly Griffith ... Anatomy Teacher (uncredited)
David LeBell ... Invalid (uncredited)
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Directed by
Andrew Niccol 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Andrew Niccol (written by)

Produced by
Danny DeVito .... producer
Georgia Kacandes .... associate producer
Joshua Levinson .... associate producer
Gail Lyon .... co-producer
Michael Shamberg .... producer
Stacey Sher .... producer
 
Original Music by
Michael Nyman 
 
Cinematography by
Slawomir Idziak (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Lisa Zeno Churgin 
 
Casting by
Francine Maisler 
 
Production Design by
Jan Roelfs 
 
Art Direction by
Sarah Knowles 
 
Set Decoration by
Nancy Nye 
 
Costume Design by
Colleen Atwood 
 
Makeup Department
Bette Iverson .... key hair stylist (as Bette L. Iverson)
Ve Neill .... makeup supervisor
Brian Penikas .... prosthetic makeup artist
Jill Rockow .... makeup artist
Alicia M. Tripi .... department head hair stylist: second unit
Toni-Ann Walker .... hair stylist
Lizbeth Williamson .... makeup artist: Ms. Thurman
Shawn Finch .... additional hair stylist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Bradley Cramp .... production supervisor
Georgia Kacandes .... unit production manager
Tim Swan .... production supervisor (as Tim Leary Swan)
Tim Swan .... unit manager
Lisa Yesko .... post-production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Otie Brown .... second assistant director
Michael Greenwood .... second second assistant director
Daniel Silverberg .... second assistant director
John R. Woodward .... first assistant director
Jason Roberts .... second second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Stephen Alesch .... set designer (as Stephen T. Alesch)
R. Scott Doran .... lead man
Don Elliott .... swing gang
Emily Ferry .... property master (as Emily Katherine Ferry)
Otniel Gonzalez .... assistant property master
Marc Meisels .... key set dressing fixtures
Jim Ondrejko .... construction coordinator (as James Ondrejko)
Joy Taylor .... assistant property master
Randall D. Wilkins .... set designer (as Randall Wilkins)
Todd Bennett .... plasterer (uncredited)
Chris Buchinsky .... storyboard artist (uncredited)
Burpo .... illustrator (uncredited)
Burpo .... storyboard artist (uncredited)
Daragh Byrne .... carpenter (uncredited)
Donna Cihak .... set dresser (uncredited)
Shannon Curfman .... on-set dresser: reshoots (uncredited)
Donald Goodman .... drapery (uncredited)
Glen Kennedy .... on set dresser (uncredited)
Natalie Richards .... assistant art director (uncredited)
Victor M. Shannon .... plasterer (uncredited)
Louis Zamora .... labor foreman (uncredited)
Neal W. Zoromski .... set dresser (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Noah Blough .... dialogue editor
Catherine Calleson .... assistant sound editor
Lawrence L. Commans .... boom operator
Nerses Gezalyan .... foley mixer
Cynthia Haagens .... assistant sound editor
Dick Hansen .... cable person
Gary A. Hecker .... foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Doug Hemphill .... sound re-recording mixer
Richard King .... supervising sound editor
Cliff Latimer .... adr supervisor
Paul Massey .... sound re-recording mixer
James Matheny .... dialogue editor (as Jim Matheny)
Jeffrey R. Payne .... foley editor (as Jeff Payne)
Steven Ticknor .... sound effects editor (as Steve Ticknor)
Scott A. Tinsley .... foley editor (as Scot Tinsley)
Stephan von Hase .... production sound mixer (as Stephan von Hase-Mihalik)
Jeffrey Wilhoit .... foley artist
Howard London .... adr mixer (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Philip Bartko .... special effects foreman
Carole Cowley .... special effects associate producer
Gary D'Amico .... special effects coordinator
Tony Bohorquez .... model maker (uncredited)
Ian O'Connor .... miniature pyrotechnics supervisor (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Daniele Colajacomo .... visual effects supervisor: 3DSite
Carole Cowley .... visual effects production coordinator: Cinesite
Ken Dackermann .... digital compositor
Steve Dellerson .... visual effects coordinator
Scott Dougherty .... digital effects producer: Cinesite
Joe Dubs .... digital paint supervisor
Gil Gagnon .... digital effects
Dan Levitan .... compositor
Mario Peixoto .... digital effects
Jerry Pooler .... digital effects
Jerry Pooler .... visual effects supervisor
Janek Sirrs .... visual effects
Chris Watts .... visual effects supervisor
Matti Asgarian .... digital effects production assistant (uncredited)
Cheryl Bainum .... computer graphics/design producer: Buzz F/X (uncredited)
Travis Baumann .... digital compositor (uncredited)
Deak Ferrand .... digital artist/designer: Buzz F/X (uncredited)
Shannon Blake Gans .... visual effects executive producer: Hunter/Gratzner Industries Inc. (uncredited)
Bill Gilman .... digital compositor (uncredited) (Cinesite Hollywood)
Vincent Lavares .... tape operator: Cinesite Hollywood (uncredited)
Mark Alan Loso .... compositor (uncredited)
Mindy Minkow .... optical camera operator (uncredited)
Scott Pourroy .... miniature effects producer (uncredited)
Anne Putnam .... visual effects producer: post production (uncredited)
James Waterhouse .... effects production assistant (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Michael Cassidy .... stunt coordinator (as Mike Cassidy)
Tyson Dexter .... stunt double
Norman Howell .... stunt coordinator
Mike Smith .... stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr. .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Jonathan Brown .... camera operator (as Jonathan W. Brown)
John T. Connor .... first assistant camera
Michael J. Hogan .... video assist operator
Robert Jason .... chief lighting technician
Michael M. Krevitt .... key grip
Darren Michaels .... still photographer
David Morton .... rigging gaffer
Matthew Nelson .... second assistant camera
Evan A. Nesbitt .... first assistant camera: VistaVision camera
Rod Robertson .... assistant chief lighting technician
Jeff Smith .... dolly grip (as Jeffrey S. Smith)
Thomas D. Wazney .... best boy grip (as Thomas Wazney)
Brennan L. Price .... rigging gaffer: re-shoots (uncredited)
Larissa Supplitt .... assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Beau Bonneau .... extras casting
Brennan Dufresne .... casting assistant
Kathryn Eisenstein .... casting associate
Terri Douglas .... adr voice casting (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Lax .... key costumer (as Jenny Lax)
Robert Q. Mathews .... costume supervisor
Barry Kellogg .... costumer (uncredited)
Valerie Laven-Cooper .... costumer (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Phillip J. Bartell .... apprentice editor
Helen Hand .... second assistant editor
Mo Henry .... negative cutter
Bob Putynkowski .... color timer
Michael Riley .... editor: end montage
John Spence .... first assistant editor
Angela Barton .... assistant editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Bunny Andrews .... music editor
Dondi Bastone .... music consultant
Cynthia Biamon .... music coordinator
Frank Macchia .... music preparation
David Robbins .... additional music arranger
David Robbins .... additional music producer
Michael Nyman .... conductor (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Joshua Hancock .... picture car coordinator
David Jernigan .... transportation co-captain (as David T. Jernigan)
James C. Taylor .... transportation captain (as James Taylor)
Kelly Aldrich .... driver: construction department (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Pamela Abdy .... assistant: Mr. Devito
Edward Allen .... first assistant accountant
Alex Barnoya .... medic
Mark Beer .... paraplegic advisor
Wes Clark .... assistant: Mr. Shamberg
Robert Earl Craft .... location manager (as Robert E. Craft)
Roger Edwin Ferrin .... production assistant (as Roger Ferrin)
Lizzie Friedman .... assistant: Ms. Sher
Wilma Garscadden-Gahret .... script supervisor
Nicholas Grace .... assistant: Mr. Shamberg
Stephanie Higgins Frey .... production assistant (as Stephanie Higgins)
Ilt Jones .... assistant location manager
Shari LaFranchi Blakney .... production coordinator (as Shari LaFranchi)
Kevin G. McGuire .... paraplegic advisor
Patrick Noonan .... production assistant
John Wayne Randolph .... craft service
Michael Riley .... title designer: main titles
Joe Angel Rodriguez .... assistant: Mr. Niccol
Kathleen Roll .... production assistant
Maurice Schwartzman .... choreographer
Spooky Stevens .... unit publicist
Emma Tillinger Koskoff .... assistant: Ms. Thurman (as Emma Tillinger)
Elizabeth Tompkins .... production accountant (as Elizabeth K. Tompkins)
Mario West .... production assistant
Vanna Bonta .... additional voices (uncredited)
Sara Burton .... location scout (uncredited)
Tom Elkins .... production assistant (uncredited)
Audra Levi .... production assistant (uncredited)
Anne Lockhart .... adr voice match (uncredited)
Robert McDonald .... production assistant (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Stacy Weinstein .... special thanks
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief violent images, language, and some sexuality
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
106 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Esperanto
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 (video premiere) | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Iceland:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34793) | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Peru:14 | Chile:TE
Filming Locations:
2nd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USASee more »
Company:
Columbia Pictures CorporationSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The piece played by the six-fingered pianist is based on Impromptu in G Flat Major, Op. 90, No. 3. by Franz Schubert (1797-1828). However, the creators did a beautiful job embellishing the piece with additional notes/harmonies so that it "can only be played with twelve" fingers, as the Uma Thurman character notes.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: At the piano recital, there's a bouquet of flowers to the right of the piano (shot from overhead), but when the pianist is finished, and takes a bow, the vase (and flowers) have vanished.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Director Josef:You keep your work station so clean, Jerome.
Vincent:It's next to godliness. Isn't that what they say?
Director Josef:Godliness. I reviewed your flight plan. Not one error in a million keystrokes. Phenomenal. It's right that someone like you is taking us to Titan.
Vincent:Has the committee approved the mission? There's been talk of delay.
Director Josef:You shouldn't listen to talk. You leave in a week. You've got a substance test.
See more »
Movie Connections:
References Dark Passage (1947)See more »
Soundtrack:
NuagesSee more »

FAQ

How did Irene cross the highway that easily? Isn't that extremely dangerous?
Is in fact that song only playable if you have twelve fingers?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
257 out of 279 people found the following review useful.
Thoughtful Science Fiction, 15 February 1999
Author: BB-15 from California

Gattaca is in many ways the best film I have seen about prejudice. Just as people have been judged for centuries by the color of their skin, Gattaca predicts that in the future there will be a more subtle discrimination. It being a science fiction film helps make it more effective by allowing us to feel the emotions of the characters with little of our own history getting in the way. A haunting musical score goes well with the feeling of the film.

Ethan Hawke as Vincent does a fine job showing the pain of someone whose life is limited before he even tries. But just as interesting were the supposedly superior characters; Vincent's girlfriend, brother and double who suffer from the lie that genetics can perfectly predict a person's life.

The film that Gattaca most reminds me of is Blade Runner. They are both about genetic engineering gone very wrong but Gattaca takes a very different approach. The problems are more subtle in Gattaca involving our own desires for success for ourselves and through our children. Amazingly, Gattaca is a good science fiction film with a small budget, few special effects and mostly filmed in existing modern buildings.

After seeing this film for a second time I liked it even better as the plot seemed more plausible. If you would like to see a sci-fi film that is based on interesting characters and situations and not explosions or special effects, try Gattaca.

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (575 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Gattaca (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Quite a catch Veehmot
Dr. Lamar = Vincent's Father Mosheva
Anyone else annoyed by the gadgets? IceGuy_Rvk
Two-thirds of a great movie GreyHunter
*Spoiler* Why was he so careless at the end? justice666
Am i the only one that thought the romance was unnecessary? terestrife
See more »

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