Distributed by

Columbia TriStar

Cat.no: CDR 95239

Cert: 15

Running time: 102 minutes

Year: 1997

Pressing: 1999

Region(s): 2, PAL

Chapters: 28 plus extras

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround

Languages: English, German (both DD 5.1)

Subtitles: 14 different languages available

Widescreen: 2.35:1

16:9-Enhanced: Yes

Macrovision: Yes

Price: £19.99

Extras : Scene index, Theatrical trailer

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Director:

Andrew Niccol

Producers:

Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher

Screenplay:

Andrew Niccol

Music:

Michael Nyman (The Piano)

Cast:

Vincent/Jerome: Ethan Hawke (Alive, Before Sunrise, Dead Poets Society, Great Expectations, The Newton Boys, Reality Bites, Snow Falling On Cedars)
Irene: Uma Thurman (The Avengers, Batman And Robin, Dangerous Liaisons, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, Les Miserables, Pulp Fiction, The Truth About Cats And Dogs)
Jerome/Eugene: Jude Law (Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil, Shopping, Wilde, The Wisdom Of Crocodiles, TV: "Children's Ward")
Director Josef: Gore Vidal
Lamar: Xander Berkeley (Air Force One, Barb Wire, Candyman, A Few Good Men, The Killing Jar, Safe)
Antonio: Elias Koteas (The Adjuster, Crash, Desperate Measures, Fallen, The Thin Red Line)
Marie: Jayne Brook (TV: "Chicago Hope")
Geneticist: Blair Underwood (Deep Impact, Just Cause, TV: "L.A. Law")
Detective Hugo: Alan Arkin (Coupe De Ville, Edward Scissorhands, Glengarry Glen Ross, Grosse Pointe Blank, Jakob The Liar, The Rocketeer, Slums Of Beverly Hills)
Anton: Loren Dean (Apollo 13, Billy Bathgate, The End Of Violence, Enemy Of The State, 1492: Conquest Of Paradise, Mumford, The Passion Of Darkly Noon, Say Anything, Starfucker)
Younger Vincent: Mason Gamble (Dennis)

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Vincent dreams of becoming an astronaut, but only "valid"'s may apply and he is introduced to Jerome (Jude Law), a "valid" - now incapacitated and in a wheelchair - who is willing to sell his prime genetic material for cash. Using Jerome's blood, urine, skin and hair samples, Vincent is able to forge a new identity and pursue his goal of a mission to space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, while romancing Irene (Uma Thurman), another "valid".

Problems arise a week before his flight when a Gattaca mission director is murdered and a relentless investigator (Alan Arkin) puts Vincent in the frame, threatening to expose Vincent's double life and ruins his hopes and dreams forever.

Other additions to the cast of note are Elias Koteas - the sickest man on the planet - if you've seen "Crash" - and Jayne Brook, from TV's Chicago Hope, as Vincent's parents, not to mention Xander Berkeley, the kind of actor whose face is always recognisable but you can't always remember his name, as the Gattaca scientist who may or may not be onto Vincent.

Like Vincent before he is set to take flight, the quality of the picture on display is almost perfect. Any artifacts are only visible if you're really looking for them. They won't be seen easily from the normal viewing distance and don't detract from your enjoyment. On one side, the film is presented in its original widescreen ratio of 2.35:1, is enhanced for 16:9 widescreen televisions - thus allowing for higher resolution - and the average bitrate is a so-so 4.25 Mb/s. On the flip-side comes the pan-and-scan version which loses a lot of picture information, most notably the gorgeous set designs, so you're best off with the widescreen one.

The sound comes in Dolby Digital 5.1 - which will benefit all of those with the suitable hardware - and Dolby Surround for everyone else. The sound doesn't get much of a workout, mainly being used for dialogue and ambience, but the musical score from Michael Nyman can send a shiver down the spine in the same way that Eric Serra's did for The Big Blue.

Extras :