Review of The Circus (1928) by John S — 22 Feb 2012
In my opinion, Chaplin's best work. The Circus is another piece of perfect mastery of the art of cinematic storytelling from the master himself, Charlie Chaplin.
Any newcomer to Chaplin's films should see The Circus. It captures perfectly what makes Charles Chaplin one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. It's funny, captivating, heart-breaking, and just brilliant in every sense of the word. The Circus is the funniest Chaplin movie that I've ever seen (and I've seen many) and with an ending that could rival City Lights as one of the most incredible endings. A good part of the film is silly zany slapstick hilarity, but towards the end, Charlie manages to draw you into his world of heart-wrenching romance/drama that is so emotionally gratifying. Charlie was the master of the romantic comedy and he would turn in his grave if he saw what the filmmakers of today have done to the genre. His ability to make you laugh till your sides hurt, and make you want to cry at nearly the same time is masterful. He truly was a cinematic magician.
The Circus is a testament to Chaplin's genius. It's a perfect example of how he operates. It's massively hilarious, hugely enjoyable, and emotionally gripping. It's just, the perfect film.
This review of The Circus (1928) was written by John S on 22 Feb 2012.
The Circus has generally received very positive reviews.
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