Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are here for a bonus podcast to discuss Bicentennial Man for its 25th anniversary.
Bicentennial Man is a science fiction comedy-drama directed by Chris Columbus and written by Nicholas Kazan. It is based on a novelette by Isaac Asimov, as well as a novel by Asimov and Robert Silverberg. It opened in theaters on December 17, 1999.
The film follows Andrew, an immortal robot (Robin Williams) who first serves the Martin family in a futuristic 2005. Mr. Martin (Sam Neill), who determines that Andrew has human emotions and interests, guides his development. Later, Andrew decides to take on more human attributes, including synthetic skin and organs, with the aid of inventor Rupert Burns (Oliver Platt).
Other characters include Mrs. Martin (Wendy Crewson), the Martins’ daughter Amanda (Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Embeth Davidtz), and Amanda’s granddaughter (also Davidtz).
Bicentennial Man garnered mixed-to-negative reviews, and it bombed at the box office. Robin Williams was nominated for Worst Actor at the Razzies, though the movie was nominated for Best Makeup at the Oscars.
Aaron and Josh talk about the first time they saw Bicentennial Man, its plot, characters, and themes. They also mention its deceptive marketing campaign and how the film stands out in today’s movie landscape.
For more science fiction, you can listen to Aaron and Josh’s Twilight Zone podcast with guest Randy Allain.
