Bicentennial Man (1999)

An android endeavors to become human as he gradually acquires emotions.

Director:

Chris Columbus

Writers:

Isaac Asimov (short story "The Bicentennial Man"), Isaac Asimov (novel),

Stars:

Robin Williams, Embeth Davidtz, Sam Neill

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Andrew Martin
Embeth Davidtz	...	Little Miss Amanda Martin / Portia Charney
Sam Neill	...	'Sir' Richard Martin
Oliver Platt	...	Rupert Burns
Kiersten Warren	...	Galatea
Wendy Crewson	...	'Ma'am' Martin
Hallie Kate Eisenberg	...	Little Miss Amanda Martin - Age 7
Lindze Letherman	...	'Miss' Grace Martin - Age 9
Angela Landis	...	'Miss' Grace Martin
John Michael Higgins	...	Bill Feingold - Martin's Lawyer
Bradley Whitford	...	Lloyd Charney
Igor Hiller	...	Lloyd Charney - Age 10
Joe Bellan	...	Robot Delivery Man #1
Brett Wagner	...	Robot Delivery Man #2
Stephen Root	...	Dennis Mansky - Head of NorthAm Robotics

Storyline

This film follows the 'life' and times of the lead character, an android who is purchased as a household robot programmed to perform menial tasks. Within a few days the Martin family realizes that they don't have an ordinary droid as Andrew begins to experience emotions and creative thought. In a story that spans two centuries, Andrew learns the intricacies of humanity while trying to stop those who created him from destroying him.

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Plot Keywords:

android | robot | actor playing multiple roles | disembodied head | robot as pathos | 

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Taglines:

One robot's 200 year journey to become an ordinary man.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and some sexual content

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Andrew Martin

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£453,512 (UK) (21 January 2000)

Gross:

$58,220,776 (USA) (26 May 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

1492 Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Laurence Mark Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The backpack Andrew wears when going around looking for surviving robots like him is made by Swedish company Boblbee.

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Goofs

When Andrew and Portia are playing chess in the park, the chess board is at first very unusually set up as most of Portia's pieces are on the board side closer to Andrew and vice versa. In the next moment, the board has changed completely.

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Quotes

'Miss' Grace Martin - Age 9: Oh, Aaaandreeeew! Could you come up?
Andrew Martin: [at the first floor, walks to her] Yes, miss?
'Miss' Grace Martin - Age 9: Andrew, would you please open the window?
Andrew Martin: One is glad to be of service.
[He opens the window]
Andrew Martin: [turns back to Grace] A lovely breeze!
'Miss' Grace Martin - Age 9: [with an arrogant gaze] Now jump.
Andrew Martin: [jumps, jumps, jumps, jumps]
'Miss' Grace Martin - Age 9: No! Out the window!
Andrew Martin: [thus jumps out of the window]
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

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Soundtracks

"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"
Written by Aretha Franklin and Ted White
Performed by Aretha Franklin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Some Prose Is Poetry

For Ray Bradbury the masterwork of perfect poignance is Drink Entire: Against the Madness of Crowds. For Isaac Asimov it is Bicentennial Man. Only Asimov could remake Pinocchio as compelling science fiction. So many have tried to create a sweet and funny story of the machine that would be man, but this is it's perfect telling.

Only Robin Williams could play the unlikely hero of this story with perfect comedic timing and perfect emotional pitch. Embeth Davidtz as his leading lady matches his skills at every turn, and Sam Neill turns in one his best performances as the man who first recognized the irreplaceable uniqueness of his mistuned android.

Bicentennial Man is first rate science fiction – without physical conflict, without wars, without new ways to incinerate each other. In the end, it makes you glad to be a messy human. Watching this truly beautiful film is a wonderful way to spend an evening, and a guarantor of better dreams than you've had in many years.