STORYLINE: Vincent, an “In-Valid,” assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. However, a week before his mission, a murder marks Vincent as a suspect.  (IMDb)

    In 2012, Jessica Chastian led the manhunt  to find Osama bin Laden in Zero Dark Thirty.  Ned Devine was the toast of 1998, in the Irish comedy Waking Ned Devine.  George Lazenby was fitted for 007’s tux in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969).  In 1968’s Planet of the Apes, Charlton Heston traveled to a world filled with apes. Sean Connery broke back into Alcatraz, in The Rock (1996). What do all those incredible movies have in common? They are some of my all-time favorite movies.  There is one movie, that joins their ranks, as my favorite film ever made, and it’s 1997’s Gattaca. 

    Recently, this favorite motion picture of mine, played as the first feature, of a double feature, with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004).  When the auditorium doors opened, I assumed my customary seat, with my customary, medium, buttered, popcorn, and large, soft drink without ice.  Before you ask, yes there was an intermission, no I did not get any refills. 

      I’ve been going to the movies for years, that includes repertory cinema.  This is the first time this feature has showed up on the repertory marquee.  The last time I saw Gattaca, in theaters, was in its original theatrical release, back in 1997.   Throughout the years I have seen it on VHS, DVD, 4K, and now full circle, back in theaters. 

    This was the first movie that I realized movies can be more then just entertainment.  Gattaca was the one that challenged me to think about what I was watching. There was a murder mystery, and ethics elements. Every time I watch this movie I fall back in love, with that challenging fact. 

   I love science fu tion cinena, in particular films that focus on humanity, over aliens. Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar (2014) is a beautiful example of one of these kind of films.  Gattaca is the film thay put this love in my heart.  There are no chest, busting aliens, force users, and the story is centered around humans being humans, not boldly going. we’re no man has gone before.

   This is a story that I can watch on repeat, and it never gets old for me.  The visual component matches that, as well for me.  As time progresses the story becomes more relevant, to society. 

   Looking back, a lot has changed in the years between the first 

 viewing in 1997, and the theatrical viewing this past weekend in 2026.  After twenty nine years, I’d hope so.  I’m no longer the same person I was back then. 

    My tastes in movies have changed. They grew up as I did.  As I was exposed to a variety of international features during my tenure working at an art house movie theater I added foreign films to my taste in cinema.  I count The Intouchables (2011) and Parasite (2019) as among my personal favorites, as well.   Gattaca has always been that baseline, of cinematic favoritism. 

    Until next time, I will see you at the movies!