Gattaca 1997 PG-13, 112 min. Genre: Drama / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Director: Andrew Niccol Cast: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Gore Vidal, Xander Berkeley, Alan Arkin, Jude Law, Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Elias Koteas, Jayne Brook, Tony Shalhoub, Blair Underwood, Maya Rudolph, Una Damon, Elizabeth Dennehy
This science fiction fable contemplates a world in which genetic engineering is used to achieve human perfection. Vincent (Ethan Hawke) was born with a heart defect but will sacrifice almost anything to be employed at the Gattaca Corp. where he could achieve his dream: flying to the edge of the solar system. To get his foot in the door, Vincent assumes the identity of an athlete, Jerome (Jude Law). All goes well–until the head of Gattaca is murdered, and fingerprints are requested from all employees.
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Melting Pot 1997 PG-13, 104 min. Genre: Drama / Comedy aka: Race
Director: Tom Musca Cast: Paul Rodriguez, CCH Pounder, Cliff Robertson, Una Damon, Annette Murphy, Efren Ramirez, Lillian Hurst, Peter Krause, Danielle Nicolet, Judy Ann Herrera
This satirical look at racial politics follows the tough campaigns of Latino Gustavo Alvarez (Paul Rodriguez) and Black Lucinda Davis (CCH Pounder) as they vie for a City Council position.
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The Truman Show 1998 PG, 104 min. Genre: Drama / Sci-Fi
Director: Peter Weir Cast: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor, Ed Harris, Brian Delate, Una Damon, Paul Giamatti, Philip Baker Hall, Blair Slater, Peter Krause, Heidi Schanz, Ron Taylor, Don Taylor
Insurance salesman Truman Burbank's (Jim Carrey) entire life has been documented as well as broadcast nationally on a 24-hour basis. All the people around Truman are actors, and Truman lives and works in a huge studio. Despite his made-up world, Truman thinks he is an ordinary man–until he decides to experience life in the outside world. Academy Award nominations included Best Director and Supporting Actor (Ed Harris). 1 User Review
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| | A good movie that doesn't quite gel | 1fatts 03/31/2007 | The elements are all here, and it is a professonal job. Weir directs; Ed Harris was up for an oscar; a solid performance from Laura Linney and Jim Carrey plays confused without going over the top.
And the script is everyone's paranoid fantasy brought to life.
It is enertaining, amusing, more-or-less satisfying, and has a couple of nice scenes taking advantage of good production values.
Then why isn't it better than this? Why isn't this allegory of the central question in so many lives -- isn't there more to me than this? -- more moving? more challenging? more significant?
I think the director sets the mark rather lower than he might have. Carrey is fine, but not better than fine. There are levels of shading that the actor doesn't bring and the director doesn't seek. Ed Harris' final confrontation with Truman, which should be man facing his creator, falls flat because Carrey isn't man enough and Harris' creator isn't high enough.
Still, a good film and well worth a few hours of your time. But one of those films where you wonder what someone else who was willing to take a few more chances could have made of this. |
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| 1. Gattaca (1997)
2. Melting Pot (1997) aka: Race
3. The Truman Show (1998)
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