I despise this movie
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PhantomAngel6121 — 17 years ago(May 07, 2008 01:18 PM)
If Chaplin didn't want people knowing about his personal life then why did he write an auto-biography?
The movie is about Chaplin himself not the films that he made.
And yes it did show him in somewhat of a negative light, but that's the power of film, the ability to manipulate people's opinions through it. And really, how could you possitivly portray some of the more negative aspects of his personalty/life? With all the respect in the world, the man is very controversial. He knew it (and flaunted it as part of his seamingly melodramatic life that he wrote about in his biography) and the film makers of this movie also knew it.
I am Jack's clichd signature -
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tody711 — 16 years ago(June 20, 2009 10:53 AM)
I agree with you Kronos. Chaplin was a good movie about a very complex person. Considering his humble beginning it is rather a "miracle" that he became what he was, a very successful actor (not only slapstick) and film maker. It is said that his half brother Sid was more talented but "a bit lazy" and did not pursue film business like Charlie did.
If you want to see how he really made movies look for the 3 (VHS) or DVD of the 1983 Thames TV special "Unknown Chaplin". It really shows how he made films, was way ahead of his time, used split screen, backward filming (see Payday movie to see him throw bricks), and how he threw things and yelled at people when things went wrong. And how he did thousands of the same shot looking for the perfect take, and how he took months off waiting for an "idea". No scripts. Just ideas. Today scripts are written, actors and crew are hired and the film is made in 2 - 8 weeks. Not Charlies movies. They took years to make.
Also go to www.snagfilms.com and watch "Charlie The Forgotten Years" to see him after he left Hollywood and lived in Switzerland. He really found the love of his life with Oona. Had 8 kids with her, was a great father. Just age caught up with him. -
allan-broadfield — 16 years ago(January 23, 2010 01:57 PM)
I was a great admirer of Chaplin from a very early age, so I suppose this film was unlikely ever to reach my expectations. However it is difficult for a 'biopic' to please everyone, especially when the person involved is so familiar, and in Chaplin's case an iconic figure. What annoyed me mostly was the carelessness in casting, one character in particular being Mack Sennet, who gave Chaplin his first chance. Sennet's appearance was thin, with white hair, whereas he was portrayed by Dan Aykroyd who would have made a very convincing Hal Roach (producer of the Laurel and Hardy pictures), rather plump and with dark hair. This I found very annoying, and was just one example.
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Felixthecat34213 — 11 years ago(October 18, 2014 12:47 AM)
Oh come onstop over exaggerating. If you hate it, just don't watch it. Why can't that be enough for you? Do you have to come here and ruin it for the rest of us?
It's Hollywood, that's what you get with Hollywood. Don't ask for anything more, they won't give it to you because they think people are simple minded. If you want to watch real cinema, get away from Hollywood. I'd be glad to make some suggestions of fantastic films for you. For the record, I think this film has some nice cinematic qualities, such as the haunting music score and cinematography. And Robert Downey Jr's performance is certainly awing.
They do explore the process of how he makes his films briefly, but Charlie Chaplin did have a very colorful and very complicated love life. To not talk about it would be ridiculous and people would have complained about how they didn't mentioned anything about "so and so."
The film was much longer than the cut that made it to theaters. Of course they cut the scenes that they knew wouldn't sell to the simply minded movie goers.
I personally wish the film had delved deeper into his childhood, such as he and his brother at the workhouse, or seeing his father as a youngster. Or how about the fact that his mother used to entertain him when he was sickly and bed ridden by acting out plays. (what a beautiful scene that would have been.) They don't even mention his other half brother Wheeler Dryden. If anything the film needed
more
about his personal life, not less. -
Darthmauler_megaa — 11 years ago(October 19, 2014 07:13 AM)
I think this film has some nice cinematic qualities, such as the haunting music score and cinematography
The music is almost other worldly at times, it's hard to describe.
And Robert Downey Jr's performance is certainly awing.
You know I was always impressed with RDJ in
Chaplin
, but it wasn't until years later when I finally started actually watching Chaplin's films that I fully appreciated his transformation. He became Chaplin inside and out, not like most biopics which are fairly surface level.
RDJ is a throwback to the old comedians in a lot of ways. He's one of those performers who's very comfortable in his own skin and willing to look a little silly to get an emotion across.
They do explore the process of how he makes his films briefly, but Charlie Chaplin did have a very colorful and very complicated love life.
There are a lot of biopics that are more focused than
Chaplin
and most of them aren't worth watching. They're either useless whitewashes or tacky exposes. Fact is it's hard summing up a man's life in 2 and half hours! In a way,
Chaplin
's lack of focus makes the film honest. The man was complicated, and a telling of his life story should reflect that.
Sure, the film is downbeat. But that's accurate to the life a comedian. They give a happy face to the world, but constantly torture themselves with worry. How will I come up with the next idea? What if audiences stop laughing? Is what I'm doing frivolous when there's so much misery and injustice in the world?
Chaplin
gets all these worries across quite well.
Personally, I thought the film's strongest moments were when they went all surreal and meta, like when he's first putting the Tramp outfit together.
his mother used to entertain him when he was sickly and bed ridden by acting out plays
I love Geraldine Chaplin mocking the land lady at the beginning ("Oh shut up, you ghastly woman"!), lol.
"Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind." -
ShooShooFontana — 9 years ago(July 16, 2016 09:59 AM)
You, sir, are an ass.
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