Review of Chaplin (1992) by Dawood T — 29 Aug 2009

This is a lost biopic on one of the greatest and most misunderstood geniuses in the history of cinema. Performed by a young and well talented Robert Downey Jr., the story of Chaplin is finally revealed by lifting the shroud of mystery hanging over it. And it is all smiles in the face of sadness or tragedy. Released a year after the death of Chaplin's officially 4th and last wife, this biopic relives the life of the actor from the London slums of XIX century to the valleys of Switzerland where Chaplin lived his last years writing his autobiography. The film is also an interesting account on those pioneers who started out cinema and are now long forgotten.

Narrative and photography are linear as well as clear in respect of the director's historical approach, Richard Attenborough. The film did not make great success amongst critics at the time and received only 3 Oscar nominations without a win; it appears that such biopic was perceived as too extensive but I think most biopics need to address the life of a person rather than one moment only in their life, or the meaning of their actions will be mistaken.

It is a great film to watch and a good 'dive' into a world where cinema was as young as Wi-Fi today...