Review of Chaplin (1992) by Matthew D — 23 Jan 2019

Chaplin is a phenomenal biopic!

Chaplin (1992) is Richard Attenborough's impressive attempt at depicting the magnificent and fascinating life of Charlie Chaplin. Attenborough captures a great deal of tragedy, drama, intrigue, scandal, romance, and insight into Chaplin's chaotic life. Chaplin works so well due to Attenborough not shying away from the more controversial aspects to Charlie's existence, especially his penchant for young girls. Chaplin captures the magic of filmmaking with the unrestrained madness of a creative genius.

Attenborough goes to staggering lengths to recreate England and America in the 1900's through the 1970's with a careful eye to detail. The costumes, make-up, accents, fashion, and politics are all front and center. Attenborough uses far wide shots for epic grandeur of a studio scene to intimate close ups of Robert Downey, Jr.'s face for emotional volatility. He is a master director as Attenborough already proved with his 1982 biopic for Gandhi and he captures similar excitement and expressiveness with Chaplin.

Speaking of Robert Downey, Jr., I think that Downey gave his greatest acting performance ever as Charlie Chaplin. His career is significant on his own merits from Zodiac to Iron Man, but Chaplin sees Downey in his prime. He kills his English accent with an effortless realism. Downey's fluid dancing and drunken movements at The Tramp character are delightful. His own manic delivery and deep forlorn speech as Chaplin give the man a verbal gravitas. Downey is highly sympathetic, but never goes overboard for such a larger than life figure. Downey is the reason why Chaplin resonated so deeply with me as a movie goer, film critic, and cinema fan. He is as funny and poignant as ever as the tragic hero Charlie Chaplin.

I must mention the several excellent supporting roles in Chaplin. Anthony Hopkins is curious and reverential as Chaplin's imagined editor and confidant George Hayden. Kevin Kline is exhilarating and charming as the legendary swashbuckler and friend to Chaplin named Douglas Fairbanks. Geraldine Chaplin is wondrous as her own grandmother Hannah Chaplin. She enchants you with her tender beauty and breaks your heart with a heartfelt and disturbing performance of insanity. Chaplin did her family proud as she is superb actress. Lastly, Moira Kelly is fantastic as Chaplin's first love and inspirational muse Hetty Kelly as well as his eternal love interest Oona O'Neill, respectively.

In all, Chaplin may inform you more about the life of Charlie Chaplin than you likely knew, but excels in its depiction of his tumultuous life. His radical ideas and innovative direction are inspiring alongside his entertaining slapstick comedy and sickening romantic life. As depressing and saddening as Chaplin's life seemed, it turns out alright after all the misery. I feel like fans of Charlie Chaplin will be pleased as Chaplin the film will gain his legacy new followers. Chaplin is honestly a brilliant biopic of magical recreation and riveting style. It is still worth watching and absorbing a different time in America.