Review of Modern Times (1936) by John S — 22 Feb 2012

Funny, smart, and heart-wrenching, Moder Times is another cinematic capture of perfection, or in other words, another one of Chaplin's best work.

It's surprisingly intelligent in it's humor and storytelling with some brilliant satire, but at the same time doesn't skimp on the classic Chaplin slapstick and of course, classic Chaplin pathos. After watching a second time, I've realized it's up there with Chaplin's greatest work. It may not be as consistently funny as his other work, but the film never gets boring and still manages to be visually arresting, even it it's downtime (which is still on a high). And there are still some of Chaplin's funniest and most brilliant gags ever here, like the nervous breakdown scene, and the magnificent nonsense song and dance. It's hard not to appreciate the genius satire and the underlying themes within that provide the viewer with a truly invigorating experience. One also can't help but be appreciative of Chaplin's daring in releasing this "silent-talkie" in the midst of the sky-rocketing popularity of the talkies. Respect.

Modern Times is definitely one of Chaplin's masterfully crafted masterpieces, it's a telling story with gripping storytelling, hilarious sight gags and ingenious satire, and an uplifting experience that will leave you smiling a mile-wide grin like an idiot. And not care who sees. Well, maybe a little. No, you won't care. Well, I guess it depends on how much you actually care about what other people think. I have trouble with that. It's hard to pretend like you don't care what other people think, because you just want to be yourself and- wait. Sorry, I digress. It's a wonderful movie. That's all.