Gattaca - The Aesthetics of Sincerity

What does sincerity look and sound like? Gattaca (1997) is one of the more earnest films you'll ever have the pleasure of watching--where does the film borrow from and why?
Great Artists Steal Better - How Skyfall Copied The Dark Knight: • How Great Directors St...
Timestamps:
Great movies are about more: 0:00
Aesthetics of the 90s: 0:39
Aesthetics of Gattaca: 1:09
Aesthetics of the past: 2:12
The look of romance: 2:57
Film Noir influence: 3:30
Retro Futurism: 3:45
Parallels: 4:21
Heightened drama played straight: 5:00

[@Kaysa56]

It struck me real hard when the first time I sees the movie, specifically at the scene where Vincent laid on floor after underwent surgery to extending his height just by a few cm, then he lay there and said something like... "When eventually after I go through this misery and agony, I'll be able to stand up and know that I'm a few cm closer to my goal." Which his goal is a distant star millions of miles away! That show how determined he is, how much he sacrifice, and how hard he is trying.

[@EricRossReel]

Absolutely. Not too long ago I saw an article about people getting that same surgery for cosmetic reasons! Crazy stuff

[@gasphynx]

A few cm? He's almost on the other side.

[@_casg]

I recall my biology teacher recommending Gattaca in 9th grade. Such as awesome futuristic movie

[@sbarn542]

Same! I’m very glad mine did :)

[@felidaefatalis]

Ditto!

[@MrNerdHair]

For me it was the 7th. She offered extra credit for watching it, first time she'd ever done that in her career. Dad & I went to Blockbuster and rented it and watched it together that night. Turns out she'd forgotten about the R rating, not to mention Jerome's suicide. (I remember that scene being particularly hard to watch.) She was mortified the next day and rescinded the extra credit offer immediately, so I was the only one who got the credit!

[@benjackson103]

Gattaca is my all time favorite film. Hands down. Nothing comes close. The triumph of the human spirt comes in with beautiful set design and exceptional acting. It simply is beautiful.

[@89Awww]

This movie blew my mind when I first saw it as a preteen. That scene with the six fingered pianist who had been genetically modified to play the daunting piece was especially compelling. Great analysis!

[@francorodriguez8332]

ive never caught that! where is the diologue that mentions the fingers?

[@89Awww]

@@francorodriguez8332 After the pianist throws his glove into the crowd, Uma Thurman puts it on to realize that one of its digits remains empty. The scene then shows a picture of his hands clearly with six fingers. The dialogue reveals that the piece can only be played by someone who can play twelve notes at once.

[@sweetpotatopie17]

That's interesting I had a totally different interpretation of that, though now reading your comment I think you're right. I thought it was implying that the pianist was incidentally born with six fingers and even though that would typically be a disability or a sign of genetic inferiority in this world, he made something incredible come out of it that inherently could not have been done by a genetically "perfect" person (playing that piece). So I interpreted it as inspiration (or just like, a sign) for Vincent to see someone who overcame the odds and accomplished something due to his genetic flaw just like he was trying to do.

[@89Awww]

@@sweetpotatopie17 Thank you for your reply! Jerome Morrow (Jude Law) was genetically 'perfect' too but that didn't stop him from being disabled, miserable and ultimately suicidal.

[@seanm.4959]

I loved your analysis. I think many of the things you pointed out also would apply to Alex Proyas' Dark City, which came out around the same time and is also a sci-fi noir that borrows liberally from the aesthetics and tropes of yesteryear while also ruminating on the defining characteristics that define the human spirit.

[@NoThankYouToo]

It applies to nearly everything, Sean. That’s the point.

[@Nefville]

Dark City is the single most underrated film of all time. You have a very good take on it despite what countdown might have to say, some people lack nuance and the ability to see it.

[@ethanwetzel7]

My favorite film of all time, from the score, the pacing, the acting, the message. Its simply stunning.

[@M_Sonata]

My god, it's been exactly a decade since when I first saw Gattaca. Thank you for the dose of nostalgia with a strong touch of cinematic commentary.

[@deadgoon2170]

Never save anything for the swim back.

[@EricRossReel]

what a line

[@Nefville]

Great analysis. To me the most striking thing about this story is that you never get to see the dream. I don't mean when he leaves at the end, from the start you never know what his dream means exactly. Its kept abstract because its doesn't matter, the 'dream' of this story is the viewers dream and I love that about this film

[@EricRossReel]

appreciate the comment but i do believe very strongly that the dream is shown and literal. vincent cant stop looking up at the sky and planning his way to get to space. i do agree with your point that you can sub in any dream and take inspiration from Gattaca as it is hugely inspiring.

[@Nefville]

@@EricRossReel I'm not sure there is a 'correct' analysis, one caveat, if there is some source material that says otherwise that you have and I am unaware of. If you would let me know if that is the case (my apologies I cannot get the description to expand on my device here) and if not I will explain why I said the ambiguity is a placeholder for the viewer's beliefs and dreams in detail and see if I can change your mind.

[@EricRossReel]

@@Nefville I am basing my opinion on the movie..there's enough evidence in the film to point to Vincent having a specific dream, space travel..leaving Earth. He is shown to be working towards it even as a child. Next time you see the movie I think you'll see what I mean. I dont feel like clipping all the parts im talking about and uploading it to show you but theres many instances

[@Nefville]

@@EricRossReel Okay that's fine. I'll just sum it up, simply crossing a threshold is not his dream, if it were it would be quite perverted. His dream is for social acceptance and having his perceived value in society based solely on his merits, not his genetic makeup. Going into space is merely the finish line, a way to conclusively tell the audience he succeeded. A dream of just being in space is perverted because if that were true then for him, his dream is to be surrounded by people who do not value him and will never accept him. This is why the swimming race is the actual climax of the film, not the moment where he crosses the threshold into space. And in anticipation of a reply that "he will not be tested anymore in space" yes that is the point and what makes the finish line work. But you have to remember what people see when they look at him and what he knows and sees about himself are two very different things. Going to a place where he has proved his merits and is beyond testing is what matters, not where he goes exactly.

[@EricRossReel]

@@Nefville that's great analysis. i agree completely.

[@bananaquit5466]

Gattaca will forever be one of my favorite movies. Thanks for contributing this thoughtful and clever analysis, I love hearing people's thoughts on it.

[@irinairis191]

I loved every second of this. You put words to a nebulous thought and feeling I had always had about this movie when you said that it is incompatible with its time. I cannot wait to see more and more and more and more.

[@TheKyllax]

4:12 Produced by Danny DeVito. Today I learned.

[@BarunMishra]

Thanks for pointing it out...I looked it up and man..."DeVito has become a major film and television producer. DeVito founded Jersey Films in 1991,[33] producing films like Pulp Fiction (1994), Get Shorty (1995), Erin Brockovich (2000) (for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture), Gattaca (1997), and Garden State (2004)."

[@risk5riskmks93]

I so seriously regret not doing EVERYTHING I could to get to a screening in a big theater with a talk by Hawke about ten years ago. It would have been tough for various reasons but I honestly wish I had MADE it happen. Still hoping for another theater screening someday.

[@Marth8880]

Such a deeply beautiful, underrated movie. Thank you for talking about it!

[@pacificareigns]

One of the most gorgeous movies ever made

[@javieralvarez1072]

I loved that movie, that slow paced rythm, those gentle but witty dialogues, that hypnotic feeling, so original and so thought provoking.

[@kadmii]

the retrofuturism really does fit into the themes of the setting: having achieved the ability to engineer human beings, society engineers them to match recycled notions of beauty and excellence, reinforcing an old social hierarchy in a new way. The engineered society is a society without the ability to dream of the future.

[@notthecutestanimal8849]

Oh shoot!! Fresh and hot upload and it’ll only take 7 minutes to watch? Score!

[@Wheatsilo]

Gattaca has been my favorite film my entire life. It will never change. Thirteen lives is the BEST movie ever made, in that it's perfect. But Gattaca is and always will be my favorite till I die.

[@shuang7877]

This is my favorite movie of all time (and I watch a lot of films). Thank you for covering it

[@lizzietizzy]

Very great tribute to such a great film!!

[@iceius5804]

Great and interesting video as always. Easy to follow despite the time gap from originally watching the movie (probably 8 years now). Thumbs up!

[@Nathan-cz4vg]

Thanks for the brilliant analysis & review of Gattaca!! I had not appreciated all the parallels & influences this movie plays with on my own. I watched this movie for the second time a few days ago, and I was disappointed by the lack of quality of the analysis/review videos I found through KZbin search, but your video just showed up on my homepage & now I am satisfied. And subscribed!

[@augurey942]

Your analysis is incredible 💗

[@historyremembers7274]

Absolutely love this movie. Been hyping up for it ever since my biology teacher said we were going to watch it as a class. My peers are just so confused when my teacher and I quote the movie. Can’t wait for the end of year! LHS!

[@charlieforcino7345]

Awesome video and a great movie, thanks man

[@marvalz]

u dropped this 👑 sick video

[@morethanmeetsthei]

Welcome back

[@EricRossReel]

ty ty

[@Asheface11]

Rode my bike to the dollar theater when I was around 17 in 1998 to see this movie. It's haunted me ever since in the sense that I relate so closely to Vincent, yet can't seem to find the thing he did that inspired him to go all in.

[@checkeredcake9988]

Loved it man!

[@nemtudom5074]

0:49 Ah, god, i miss the 90's It was a bit too much edge, but thats still better than no edge corporate culture that we have today....

[@anastrophe]

Really enjoying working through this channel, top rate. Only one, single, solitary, and annoyingly pedantic criticism, simply from the perspective of someone who lived there for some years, and still live nearby. "Marin" is pronounced "muh-RIN", note "MARE-in". :)

[@EricRossReel]

haha thank you..i rely on you guys fixing my pronunciation mistakes

[@Divane21]

I love video essays! Hope to see more from you

[@EricRossReel]

yes

[@GoofyPilled]

Awesome video Mr Ross I am currently watching this for a 4th time and commenting for the Al Gore Rhythm

[@fandude7]

Thank you.

[@Maxdalova]

well done mate

[@jbug1979]

wow i never heard of this. need to watch it now. thanks for this video.

[@jbug1979]

also wanted to say that i hope you make more of these kinds of videos, soon!

[@EricRossReel]

@@jbug1979 I've got a couple more check them out! Thank you. Hopefully making some more soon

[@jbug1979]

@@EricRossReel checking them out as we speak! 👍 thank you!

[@vsirrmk]

So, did you watch it? Did you like it?

[@ps3301]

They should win an Oscar !!

[@vsirrmk]

Why is Vincent talking at the end like he is flying to his death, never to return? It was supposed to be a 1 year mission ( in a very well tailored suits, ha:), and then he will be returning to his Irene, no ?

[@necromorph1109]

This video made me sad . As I think about what movies we have now …uh

[@tsmith731]

One of all time favorite movies, yet no one understands it!

[@tylerdurden2832]

Please make more videos.

[@EricRossReel]

Have you seen the rest? I'm working on more ..it takes time ahaha

[@tylerdurden2832]

@@EricRossReel Yes I did. What you said about copying what you truly understand is so true, then only you can be honest. And that is how innovation happens.

[@EricRossReel]

@@tylerdurden2832 awesome. well hopoefully ill have a 2 hour long one in the next month :)

[@TheDogsrool]

I liked your breakdown of the film, but I wish you went into at least one scene from other films which would appear less 'sincere' to better articulate what that actually means.

[@EricRossReel]

Fair ... i brought up the grittiness of the decade to contrast as well as 3 films from 3 major auteurs that are on a completely different track. take boogie nights for example , PTA is somewhat laughing at the characters in his story -- tongue in cheek characters -- nothing in Gattaca suggests these characters are to be laughed at. the film is taking them and their dreams and problems completely seriously. you're probably right I should've expanded on it but i think you understand what I mean to the extent it applies to Gattaca at least. That wholesome element..it being a throwback to a more innocent era.

[@TheDogsrool]

@@EricRossReel Yeah that could just be me being too anal and preferring longer forms of commentary. Though if I were to be anal about one other thing, I found one bit of language to be a bit confusing. When you say the director 'had' to be inspired by an older era of films, it confused me a bit because that implies he was forced to find sincerity there rather than simply using it to better represent his vision. I suppose you could say that's being forced but regardless the word choice presents this odd disparity between old and contemporary and makes it seem as if being current takes sincerity from a work. Personally, it would be more accurate to me to consider the retro-futurist aesthetic a callback to a bygone filmography. Anyway, I might be coming off as a bit too negative, so I'm gonna stop there. I really did enjoy your video and ended up watching it about three times just to get everything. If you continue making more videos, I'll be sure to watch!

[@EricRossReel]

it's a style thing ... having that very heightened sense of both drama and sincerity is what makes it stand out so much in comparison to contemporary work. its not that no film can be sincere unless it reaches for that aesthetic and tone , , , however Gattaca is a throwback to when that feel for a movie was much more commonplace ..and its clearly borrowing its look from classic Hollywood

[@TheDogsrool]

@@EricRossReel Yeah my nitpick was more about the word choice implying it to be a necessity, but I otherwise agree with your point and found it to be rather educational.

[@EricRossReel]

@@TheDogsrool understandable ..really glad you found it to be informative . thanks for engaging with the essay :D

[@TUBESPECIFIC1]

Gattaca is a wonderful classic science fiction. I understand it cost $20 million to produce but made only $12 million. How could a masterpiece be a loss? 25 years ago was an era when most people didn't go for things like science fiction and conspiracy theories. Today everyone mostly agrees that the real world is being redefined by science fiction and conspiracy theories for it's an obvious given in the 2020's.

[@EricRossReel]

Happens a decent amount, sometimes it takes a while for audiences to find and appreciate a film. Vertigo for example . . .

[@shanebplante]

Brilliantly put together . ❤❤❤

[@SweetBerryVibes]

Anyone ever noticed how there is no video technology in the Gattaca Universe. Its a way to get rid of the plot hole of survalence ruining everything in the movie but I genuinely think Gattaca is based in a future where video technology was never invented lol you never see a TV or a camera at all

[@EricRossReel]

star trek's the same way

[@christopherorick8652]

Did he bring his glasses? Or do they have super long lasting contacts by then?

[@EricRossReel]

lol i think we'll go with future contacts

[@Sardonac]

I like the video but I disagree about the framing device you use: it's not that Gattaca or Jurassic Park aren't "about" their principal subjects, it's that their plots and dialogue don't often explicitly engage the themes and resonances highlighted by the films. Each film is clearly "about" gene editing and dinosaurs. It's just that they also happen to resonate at a thematic level for the reasons you mention. This may seem like an obvious point but unless you make this clear, your comments can come off as both speculative and condescending.

[@EricRossReel]

yea..its about that but what is it really about is what im getting at , whats underneath .i think you completely understood what im saying ,,,,im not saying it in a snobby or condescending way

[@synical6676]

Nice vid, a little constructive criticism/suggestion is to put a little but of background music, it doesn't have to be loud or intrusive but it fills the silence

[@youtuber5305]

For anyone who wants their baby to be blond, blue-eyed and intelligent, ever heard of Jeffrey Dahmer? He was blond, blue-eyed and VERY intelligent which is how he was able to elude the authorities for so long.

[@heathmcrigsby]

Whining about capitalism in the first minute. Sad.

[@EricRossReel]

the only people whining are people like you who cannot handle a fairly obvious interpretation of jurassic park . look how you're crying in the comments LMAO. sad!!!!

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Maga snowflakes are so easily triggered. Sad.

[@missingo3594]

only thing I would say is capitalism isn't about greed, it's about growth and the competition, which opens us up to the free market that we need essentially, apart from your weird marxist moment, I do agree indeed with a lot of what you have said about the movie, just watched it for the first time, came looking for reviews after, I was very impressed with this movie

[@TheDogsrool]

Saying capitalism is about greed is an observation. You have to be really uneducated to think that's strictly marxist.

[@missingo3594]

@@TheDogsrool oh look another worthless comment about how your brain is big and my brain is small, thanks again internet, humans really can't communicate anymore without being sociopaths - you're not smart

[@felidaefatalis]

Growth and competion to what end? What is the point of growth for growth's sake if it ends up being exploitative.

[@EricRossReel]

"humanity's greed and capitalism's inability to stop" is what i said--growth and competition as you describe, never ending, being the point of Jurassic Park. “Just because you can doesn't mean you should.” :D

[@missingo3594]

@@felidaefatalis lol what are you on? growth doesn't have an end, economics doesn't fit into a neat box and it's really authoritarian of you you to fearmonger about growth before anything has even been contextualized and 5 pea brains liked your vague and pointless comment that made no point worth discussing, pathetic