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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Sir Richard Attenborough's biographical film of the life and times of Charles Chaplin is a little thin as a narrative, but it is so charmingly creative and ultimately moving, it's hard to care about any deficits. Robert Downey Jr. does an excellent job re-creating Chaplin's graceful slapstick and getting inside the silent-film superstar's head over many years of triumph, defeat, scandal, official persecution, exile, and inner peace. A huge cast portray the allies, friends, lovers, and enemies in Chaplin's life, including Moira Kelly as his final, longtime wife, Oona, Kevin Kline as Douglas Fairbanks, Geraldine Chaplin as Charlie's mother, and James Woods as a prosecutor working hard to nail Chaplin for anti-American sentiments. Attenborough declines to tell the story in a flat, linear way, employing such clever techniques as detailing one chapter in Chaplin's life as a silent comedy. The climactic scene set at an Oscar tribute for Chaplin will get the tears flowing. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Robert Downey, Jr. captures the essence of comic genius Charlie Chaplin in a compelling, nuanced performance that earned him Oscar(r) and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor. Director Richard Attenborough's well-crafted portrait traces Chaplin's impoverished London upbringing, extraordinary success as an actor and director, his troubled marriages, scandalous affairs, shocking exile to Switzerland and his triumphant return to Hollywood. The huge star-studded cast includes Kevin Kline, Dan Aykroyd, Milla Jovovich, Diane Lane and Geraldine Chaplin (as her own grandmother). Downey's astonishing mimicry of Chaplin's gait, gestures and accents complete a dazzlingly authentic portrait of one of cinema's first pop culture icons.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
76 of 80 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you're anything like me, the almost semi-annual relapse and recovery of Robert Downey Jr. has been an interesting periodic feature of the morning news. After a while one begins to question why does Hollywood put up with him when there is no shortage of talented actors desperately trying to make it in Hollywood? Why would producers and studios, who are so financially dependent on their productions going off without a hitch, take yet another chance on Robert Downey, Jr? Then I saw Chaplin, and I understood.
The intensity and power of the Robert Downey's performance in this film is the stuff of Oscars and true movie legend! It's both a beautiful performance and a beautiful film!
Somehow Sir Richard Attenborough got out of Downey the kind of performance that can sustain a career, and a legend. But Sir Richard's mastery didn't stop there. He got spectacular performance out of everyone, including a young, pre-X-Files David Duchovny. (I know I misspelled that. But you know who I mean.)
In summation, Robert Downey's performance is every bit the equal of James Dean's in Giant, East of Eden or Rebel without a Cause, and maybe that's what we should keep in mind. For unlike Dean, another self-destructive personality, Robert Downey has not driven off the cliff yet, and hopefully he never will.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Charles Chaplin was one of the pioneers in film who brought us classics such as The Kid (1921), Gold Rush (1925), Modern Times (1936), and Great Dictator (1940). His many successes are still to this day considered masterpieces which he created, acted, directed, and edited. He had a brilliant eye for what the human mind was observing and he could make comedy out of almost anything. However, despite Chaplin's great sense of humor the recurrent theme in his life seems to be surrounded by sadness and loss where his escape was to help others feel a sense of joy. Chaplin is a brilliant cinematic story that has a fantastic cast and where the lead as Chaplin is managed brilliantly by Robert Downey Jr.. In addition, the story weaves in moments out of Chaplin's life where he got his ideas in an ingenious manner which displays the superb directing in the story. When the audience sees everything put together they will experience a dazzling cinematic experience.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Excellent biographical epic, with inspirational, amazing acting from Robert Downey, Jr., and the rest of the cast. Charlie Chaplin was truly a genius, and a beautiful human being. Robert Downey, Jr. "becomes" Chaplin - and the story of his life draws you in so completely, you will find yourself wanting to watch it again and again. When you hear the beautiful song, "Smile," you will always remember who wrote it, and the life of its author, Charlie Chaplin. Robert Downey does a great job on his own rendition of playing piano and singing Smile both on the soundtrack and his later released cd in 2006. For any serious movie lover, you must own this one. Check out the rest of the great cast!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of the top films ever made.
First off a warning: For all those people thinking this should be funny because Charlie Chaplin was funny ... it isn't.
This movie is a masterpiece. Read more
This movie is a masterpiece. Read more
Published 3 days ago by M Faire
A Unique Biography
Charlie Chaplin is played by Robert Downey, Jr., but also by Chaplin himself in old films, both his own movies and various studio publicity and news items. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Barbara Frederick
Well done!!
I did not know what to expect form this movie. Especially since I didn't know much beyond the basics about Mr. Chaplin. I was taken off guard by how much I enjoyed this movie. Read more
Published 14 days ago by spit9lvr
The Chaplin Story
This is an excellent presentation of the Chaplin Story. Downey does an outstanding job portraying the great silent comic. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Cary Grant
fantastic movie (dont have to even know who chaplin is)
i just adore robert downey jrs work as both a singer and an ACTOR. he truly has done some AWESOME work. Read more
Published 24 days ago by joan f
If you Love Robert Downey, you will LOVE this!
One of Robert Downey's best performances. You will not be disappointed with this one. Shipping was quick. I will buy more for gifts.
Published 3 months ago by Tombaga5mn
great movie
I bought this movie after seeing some of Chaplins silent movies on turner classic movies. I have never seen them before and i enjoyed them so much. Even my kids enjoyed them. Read more
Published 3 months ago by mbussey
A fantastic performance
Watch the moving film about the life and living of Sir Charles Chaplin. Stunning performance by Robert Downey Jr, Kevin Kline, Anthony Hopkins among others. Read more
Published 4 months ago by P
BUYER BEWARE!
I LOVE the movie, let's be clear about that. I currently own the 15th Anniversary Edition on standard DVD, and wanted to purchase a Blu-Ray to go with our upgraded TV and player. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Alyssa Spain Springer
PLEASE, BE AWARE WITH THIRD_PARTY INET VIDEO!
To begin with, the 1 star rate is for the seller alone, since this movie is a little masterpiece, yet underrated by many, and IMO Robert Downey Jr. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Claudio R. R. Alves
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