Review of Chaplin (1992) by Evan T — 11 Sep 2012

Richard Attenborough took on the daunting task of trying to encapsulate in one feature the life and times of one of Hollywood's greatest minds: Charlie Chaplin. Robert Downey Jr. plays the man himself in a biopic that spans from Chaplin's boyhood troubles with his mother to his acceptance of his honorary Academy Award.

Throughout the film, we see Chaplin's struggles to keep his four marriages afloat, his obsessive work ethic, the FBI's and particularly J. Edgar Hoover's dogged pursuit to prove he was a Communist, and Chaplin's aversion to mega-stardom that he had received.

The film expertly uses silent film techniques and gags in the course of Chaplin's life and gives the film a unique biopic feel in that regard. Downey's performance is wonderful and the supporting cast that includes the likes of Dan Aykroyd, Kevin Kline, Anthony Hopkins, Diane Lane, Kevin Dunn, Milla Jovovich, Marissa Tomei, James Woods, Moira Kelly, and Chaplin's own daughter Geraldine Chaplin playing her grandmother.

Where the film seems to struggle is that it seems to rush through parts of Chaplin's life. Even at close to two and a half hours, it just doesn't seem enough time was spent on big parts of Chaplin's life.

Some of that is just because Chaplin himself was such an interesting and intriguing figure and William Goldman could only do what he could. Still it is a worthwhile biopic that depicts the life of a man who sadly was not fully appreciated in his time and who was chastised for things out of his control.