Throwback Thursday-Bicentennial Man (1999)

Science fiction has an eerie way of predicting the future.

The 1999 film, Bicentennial Man, based on the 1976 book by Isaac Asimov is about a robot who over time, changes from machine to man.

Andrew Martin ( the late Robin Williams) is purchased to be the home robot of the Martin family. He watches as the family grows and changes. He is especially close to the youngest daughter,  Amanda Martin (Embeth Davidtz), whom he refers as Little Miss. Andrew is no ordinary robot. While he is entirely machine, his emotions and reactions are closer to that of a human being.  When a scientist, Rupert Burns (Oliver Platt) offers to completely change Andrew into a human being,  Andrew jumps at the chance.  But he will soon learn that being a human is not as black and white as it seems.

There are some actors that are unfortunately stuck in one genre. As much as they try, they are unable to step out of that genre and into another. Robin Willliams was not one of those actors. While this movie does have some of the manic, humorous moments that the audience expects from a Robin Williams film, there is dramatic tone underneath. The film asks the audience to ponder about what it is to be a human being and what happens when we take chances, even when we don’t know what the outcome will be.

I recommend it.

 

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Throwback Thursday- The Matrix (1999)

Science fiction has an odd way of predicting the future. Whether it is Frankenstein or 1984, in hindsight, some of these stories can be prophetic.

The Matrix (1999) can be added to this list. By day, Thomas A Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is an computer programmer working the daily grind. After work, he uses the nom de plume of Neo, spending him time as a hacker. When the police target Neo, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) introduces Neo to the real world and the fight to save humanity from annihilation by machines.

At the time of it’s release, this movie was ground breaking in more ways than one. It still is 16 years later. And after nearly 20 years, it still holds up as enjoyable entertainment.

I recommend it.