Bicentennial Man

We are all very much aware of what technology has done to improve and complicate our lives. There is no doubt that computers have made a great deal of difference in the lifestyles of people in the last 20 years. One has to ask, what will be next great advance in technology?

What about robots? Certainly we have seen the robot on television and in the movies for years, serving as servants and helpful companions to human beings. Will there be a day when having a robot in the home will be as standard as having a television, computer, or telephone? One must wonder.

Bicentennial Man is about a robot-servant made at the Robotics Company in San Francisco at the turn of the new millennium. Robin Williams plays the part of a NDR-114 android who is designed and made solely to serve man. He is purchased by Richard Martin (Sam Neill) and is named Andrew (Martin) by Richard's young children, Grace and Amanda (Ambeth Davidtz). Andrew seems most enthralled with his duties caring for the children. He becomes particularly attached to Amanda, the youngest daughter, whom he refers to as Little Miss.

The oldest daughter, Grace, one day orders Andrew to jump from an upstairs window. Just before he begins to leap, Richard intervenes and tells his daughter that "although Andrew is a machine, in this house, we shall treat him as a human being." From that day forward, Andrew is encouraged to learn, be creative, express himself, and learn a trade. Richard Martin teaches Andrew how to make clocks, which they sell. When the sale of clocks begin making a great deal of money for the family, it is Amanda who encourages her father to allow Andrew to have his own bank account and handle his own finances.

As the children grow, move out of the family home and marry, Andrew becomes more and more like a son to Richard and his wife (referred to in the movie only as Ma'am and played by Wendy Crewson). Andrew has become well read over the years, and recently interested in the concept of freedom. As he begins to think about this concept, he desires freedom more and more for himself. He decides to offer his master money in order to buy his freedom. Richard becomes infuriated with Andrew and returns the money. However, he also gives Andrew his freedom, and tells him that he must accept the consequences of his decision, therefore, he must move out of the family home and find his own place to live.

Andrew builds a house on the sea shore and continues his long standing friendship with the Martin family, all the time watching as the family he has become so much a part of grows older. The passage of time makes Andrew all the more aware how different he is, and in his uniqueness, how alone he is.

Andrew decides that by looking more human he might narrow the gap between himself and the human world he so wants to understand. Even after seeking robotic upgrades that change his looks to appear more human, there is still something missing.

However, freedom is more than the ability to decide for one?s self where to live, the ability to come and go as one pleases. Andrew discovers that he still lacks the power of free will.

Andrew sets out on a journey of discovery, to seek out his own kind and to find out for himself what it is to be a human. He needs to know if there is any robots like him. His search leads him to a Rupert Burns, (played by Oliver Platt), an independent and inventive robotics expert. It is with the help of Rupert that Andrew is able to discover himself, developing and appreciating his own feelings and abilities.

As Andrew returns to his own life he discovers once again what the passage of time can do to human beings. As Little Miss is now an old woman, he develops a new friendship with her granddaughter Portia (also played by Ambeth Davidtz). Through her, he learns what love is and desires more than ever to be a man.

Andrew, with the help of Rupert develops a complex system of synthetic organs and even a central nervous system. This breakthrough not only helps Andrew to become more human like, it also provides a medical breakthrough in organ transplants for humans. When he asks Portia to marry him, she speaks of her desire to be with him, but knows they will never be accepted by society. Though such a request has never been heard of before, Andrew goes to court to request he be declared human. His quest takes him on a journey that lasts decades and eventually the understanding of the human condition and mortality of man.

This one hour and thirty minute by Touchstone Pictures was released in movie theaters in 1999. It was directed by Chris Columbus and written by Isaac Asimov. The movie is rated PG and is suitable for children. A word of caution however - this movie does have some sexual content and children should be with a parent when viewing.

I give Bicentennial Man four stars. I think it is a movie that the whole family can enjoy!