This movie was great, especially if you can catch all of the little science references (particularly to DNA-related stuff). It's clever, intelligent, and really makes you think, as it mostly concerns topics like ethics in biology. The particular question is: 'When it is possible to completely read and understand DNA, should it be available to businesses looking to hire? If it is, should they be allowed to discriminate based on test results (as they would be able to tell approximately how old one will be when one dies, what diseases they may have, and if they have any other problems they can't control)?' Now that I've given you the basics, I might as well give you the plot. In the ...near-ish... future, genetic engineering has allowed families to create their ideal children with all the 'bad genes' altered or erased. Antonio (Elias Koteas) and Marie Freeman (Jayne Brook) are a young couple that decide to have a baby 'God's Way' (without medical assistance and in vitro fertilization). Their son, Vincent Freeman (performed by Mason Gamble, Chad Christ, and Ethan Hawke, respectively), is born with a high percent chance of heart failure in his thirties, and is considered an invalid because of his faulty genes. Next, the Freeman parents have a 'valid' child named Antonio (performed by Vincent Nielson, William Lee Scott, and Elias Koteas, respectively), who becomes the stronger, better son that has a good future ahead of him. The crushed Vincent, known as the cripple in the family, used to dream of becoming an astronaut when he grew up, but his embarrassed parents told him that he would never be allowed in because of his medical condition. He would never be like his brother. Depressed that his own family was against him, Vincent (now Ethan Hawke) left home and worked at the space facility to be near his dreams. When an underground specialist named German (Tony Shalhoub) came into Vincent's life, so did hope. This secretive man claimed that Vincent could become someone else. If he would allow someone to live with him (as well as paying him), the man would supply samples of his DNA and other necessary things (such as fingerprint glue-ons) so that Vincent could pretend to be him. Why does this man cooperate with the whole idea? Because Jerome Eugene Morrow (Jude Law), a valid with a powerful body and virtually flawless genes, was hit by a car and can no longer move without a wheelchair. Now, Vincent is closer than ever to accomplishing his life's dream, as he is about to pilot a ship to Titan for a whole year! Unfortunately, when the flight director at the facility is murdered and an eyelash from the invalid Vincent is found in the hall nearby. The plan that had worked so perfectly is about to crumble right in front of him. Also, the girl Vincent has come to care about, Irene Cassini (Uma Thurman), doesn't even know who Vincent actually is! How long will Vincent be able to keep this illusion up? What will happen when he can't? I would recommend renting this movie. Hey, why'd this movie get a PG13 rating? There were, like, three sex scenes, including one really steamy one that was kinda awkward. Oh well, this movie is great; inspiring and nearly flawless. I have no complaints, so this must be pretty good!
