Review of Chaplin (1992) by Joshua D — 21 Dec 2012

One of the best biopics ever made.

Kevin Kline delivers a gripping performance as movie icon and Chaplin's buddy, Douglas Fairbanks. It was a treat to see Geraldine Chaplin (Charles' daughter) playing the role of Charles' mentally ill mother. Moira Kelly also does a great job of playing dual roles of the women that held Chaplin's truest affections. It goes without saying that the film's cast is superb, but it was Robert Downey Jr. absolutely disappearing into the role of Charles Chaplin that stole the show.

Downey's Chaplin is both an endearing and tragic figure. Despite Chaplin's constant womanizing and naturally defiant and confrontational behavior (for which he received special attention from the FBI), he is portrayed with an innocence that makes him impossible not to love. It's both joyous to see his accomplishments and triumphs, and sad to witness his self assessed shortcomings both as a filmmaker and a man.

Richard Attenborough gorgeously renders a poignant life story set amidst the infancy of modern cinema. Top to bottom, the presentation is masterfully executed. Set pieces and selected locations feel true to the film's setting and era, and the film's score is particularly effective, adequately accentuating the mood of the story.

It was nominated for three Academy Awards - Best Actor, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Score. It lost art direction to Howard's End (a deserving winner) and original score to Aladdin (meh). Robert Downey Jr. was nominated along with Clint Eastwood, Stephen Rhea, Denzel Washington, and lost to Al Pacino for his role in Scent of a Woman. Having seen all of these actors' performances (all brilliant), I can safely say that Downey was robbed.

This is the kind of film that makes me wonder why RDJ isn't going for more roles like this. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes are all fine, but I'd really like to see him in something like this again. He's still an Oscar caliber performer, but he's got to (at least periodically) ditch the popcorn flicks and give us another classic like Chaplin.