"Bicentennial Man": actors, review

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

A film project created on the basis of the material proposed by the two pillars of American science fiction, more precisely the creative symbiosis of Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, resulted in the creation of this film, which critics evaluated very ambiguously. Someone excitedly sang praises, and someone attacked. Consider in this review the film "Bicentennial Man" (1999). The actors involved in the project worked well under the masterful direction of director Chris Columbus. The result is a very solid film, considered by some to be the best robot film in history.

Backstory

In 1976, a short story by Isaac Asimov was published. The title Bicentennial Man evoked hackneyed dreams of immortality, but the book turned out to be about a robot who dreamed of becoming a man. The work excited the readership, as well as literary criticism. Admirers of the writer's talent vied with each other to praise Asimov's new work. Critics prophesied life incenturies. The novel has garnered a good harvest of awards in the sci-fi writers' kitchen league. This, of course, is "Hugo" and "Nebula" in the corresponding category. The author himself rated this work very highly, considering it one of the best in his writing career.

The issues raised in the story inspired Asimov and Silverberg to return to it together. This is how the novel "Positronic Man" was born, which inspired the project of the film, which will be discussed. The screenplay script for it was written by Nicholas Kazan, not very favored by Hollywood laurels, but worthy of working on the creation of film production.

Production of the painting "Bicentennial Man"

The actors and roles in the film are well balanced thanks to the skillful approach of the already mentioned Chris Columbus. By the way, at the time of filming, he was already a fairly famous director thanks to cute comedies about a boy who was left at home for Christmas without his parents. This, of course, is about the paintings "Home Alone", the first and second parts. Thus, for Columbus, the film became a kind of experiment. Since before that he was shooting mostly family comedies. There is also a clear philosophical overtone here, even with a claim to thinking about the meaning of human existence.

As for the musical accompaniment, here it should be noted the almost permanent composer of the Hollywood mainstream of the last few decades - James Horner. Behind him, as you know, there is a tendency to choral elements with the connection of Celtic motifs. Bicentennial Man was no exception.

Actors

A wonderful actor, already notorious at that time, starred in the title role, Robin Williams - a man who has played in almost 100 films during his difficult career, an Oscar winner for the second plan in an equally cool project called "Good Will Hunting". It is believed that roles often find their actors on their own. The same can be said about Robin. His kind, but at the same time long-suffering face was the most appropriate fit for most of his types in the movies. Many of the characters he played have experienced a huge amount of experience and loss. At the same time, the comedian's train steadfastly stretched behind the actor, since, among other things, he was also a stand-up comedian. Robin Williams plays a robot who decides to become a human. He, in general, is the same two-hundred-year-old man.

The actors who played the rest of the roles are also worthy of mention. So, the second charismatic character went to Sam Neill. He plays the father of the family who bought the robot. It was the character of Neill who, by design, nurtured this desire to become a person. It is he who protects the vulnerable robot from the desire of his daughter to use him only as a toy. It is the father who inspires us with the idea that he is not just a piece of metal, but something more.

Finally, one more character is important in terms of plot formation. This is one of the daughters in the family that adopted the robot. She was played by Embeth Davidtz. And although the name is not well known, however, apart from a goodtrack record, in the luggage of this wonderful actress is a magnificent talent that made it possible to create a truly integral character. Moreover, in the course of the saga, two centuries long, she first plays the daughter of the Amanda family, and then, many years later, according to chronology, her granddaughter. And in both roles she is very good. Like the whole film "Bicentennial Man", the actors of which are worthy of the story created.

Overview

For those who haven't watched, the plot outline is already being assembled from small touches. Everyone doesn't like spoilers. Let's not abuse the feelings of readers. The essence is simple, like much created by the classics of science fiction. A film about a robot that, after many years of its existence, having received feelings, having experienced the pain of loss, decides to become a man himself. A task worthy not so much of a science fiction book as of a philosophical treatise. Such, in general terms, is Bicentennial Man. The actors and roles are also very well chosen.

Responses

Audience was divided. Some critics really liked the project itself, and Williams' work in the difficult role of a robot. Others were dissatisfied with the film adaptation, for example, Pulitzer winner Roger Ebert, who compared it to asph alt. "Tomatoes" gave only 4.8 points out of 10. Be that as it may, the most important indicator of spectator interest - rental money, speaks for itself. The film did not even collect the hundred million dollars included in the project. Nevertheless, the actors of the film "Bicentennial Man" created a very worthy action that is worth seeing for every lover of real science.fiction from Isaac Asimov.

Conclusion

Viewing the movie through the prism of more than 15 years that have passed since the film adaptation, given the sudden death of Robin Williams in the recent past, I don't want to talk about the weaknesses of the implementation. Viewers who have not seen the picture should note the film "Bicentennial Man", the actors and the review of which were briefly discussed in the article.