Chaplin (1992)
TriStar Pictures
Directed by Richard Attenborough
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Dan Aykroyd, Anthony Hopkins, Moira Kelly
Charlie Chaplin was an early film star during the silent years. His comedy features entertained millions of people around the world. Though he appeared as a comedian on stage, his life behind the camera was riddled with hardships and scandals. Chaplin is a biopic that tries to show the true Chaplin that the world never saw. Based off the books My Autobiography by Chaplin and Chaplin: His Life and Art by David Robinson, the film takes Chaplin’s life and puts it on screen with some success.
An elderly Chaplin (Robert Downey Jr.) retells his life to writer George Hayden (Anthony Hopkins) for a new biography. Chaplin was born poor and to a mentally insane mother. He breaks into stardom and is soon offered a job in America working on motion pictures with Mack Sennett (Dan Aykroyd). Soon the comedian becomes a huge star and decides to direct his own films. Chaplin explores his entire life including his scandals, his wives, and his film career. As Chaplin gets older and more famous, his ego takes over. The audience sees how power can ruin a man’s life and money cannot buy you happiness.
Robert Downey Jr. is the perfect actor to portray Chaplin. He looks like and acts like the screen legend. This film would not have worked if any other actor had put on the bowler hat and cane associated with “The Little Tramp.” Apart from Downey Jr., the film does have some flaws. Chaplin is overly long and dry, and is very fast paced for a biopic. Richard Attenborough has shoved too much material into this film. Parts are skipped over and some are very rushed. The first half of the film is the best material. It is well paced and shows how Chaplin got into Hollywood. From there, it is a downward story focusing on more of his secret, personal life and not enough on his movie career. Dan Aykroyd plays his first director, and adds a comedic sense to the film.
The ending of the film pays homage and respect to “The Tramp” by playing real footage of Chaplin in several of his films. This movie does not try to make you hate Chaplin, but instead tries to make you understand the man. Whether you have seen any of Chaplin’s works, or not, Chaplin will introduce you to the legend and make a star out of Robert Downey Jr.
Rating: B-
March 2, 2010
