Chaplin
(PG-13, 2:24:43, Released 1992)
| Genres: | Drama |
| Release Date: | Dec 18, 1992 |
| DVD Release Date: | Jul 25, 2000 |
| Starring: | Robert Downey Jr., Geraldine Chaplin, Paul Rhys, Moira Kelly, Anthony Hopkins, Dan Aykroyd, Kevin Kline, Marisa Tomei, Penelope Ann Miller, Maria Pitillo |
| Directed by: | Richard Attenborough |
| Synopsis: | 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 |
| Full movie details |
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Other Top Reviews
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December 28, 2009
This was an exilent movie and Robert did shuch a damn good job playing chaplin. I loved it.
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December 19, 2009
oh this was very good
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December 18, 2009
Would have loved to see more of Aykroyd as Sennet, Kline as Fairbanks, Lane as Goddard, and the filmmaking process in the early days of Hollywoodland. Downey Jr. is excellent in technically recreating Chaplin's physicality and touching as we see the tears that this clown hid with a smile.
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December 16, 2009
Great performance by Robert Downey, Jr. No matter what his problems, he is a consumate actor.
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December 9, 2009
Awesome movie, now I adore Chaplin. Robert D. Jr. was awesome. I saw it today again, loved it.
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December 5, 2009
give it a thumbs up!
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November 26, 2009
Brilliant. Robert Downey Jr. is gorgeous and amazing.
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November 16, 2009
ya, i would like to see ii.
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November 12, 2009
A movie that portrays Chaplin's personal life; which wasn't all that funny. Its also a harsh look at reality at how Charlie Chaplin was just as human as anyone. His work and life was dedicated to making people laugh which deeply affects his personal life. This movie is very well made and it honestly has been a while to see a movie that doesn't exaggerate how life was in the early 1900s. It felt in a way; right.
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November 8, 2009
Robert didn't just act the part of Chaplin, he became him. I don't think I have ever seen a better performance in my life. He definitely should have won the Oscar that year.
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November 3, 2009
gOOD MOVIE...Downey is a great stand-in for Chaplin. Only Depp or Downey would work for this part and waiting to see Deep in it next!!
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October 25, 2009
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October 24, 2009
Beautiful. Robert Downey Jr makes an wonderful performance. I saw Chaplin like I never tought I would see it before. So personal.
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October 23, 2009
bio genialgrafia,, super... saludos a todos las que la vieron....
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October 23, 2009
I love this movie. Made me cry at the end.
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October 21, 2009
Friends Who Want To See
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October 20, 2009
Reaaly liked this movie. Robert D. and the rest of the cast where graciious.
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October 15, 2009
i love charlie chaplain
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October 14, 2009
Fantastic film of a movie legend. The story manages to engahe the audience in the life of Chaplin whilst also keeping close to his film ideas, in particular those which included the tramp. The entire cast were great.
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October 8, 2009
This is a fairly traditional biopic about the titular actor; it starts with his youth and ends at his retirement, no gimmicks. This is certainly a well produced piece of work: the old Hollywood they create is convincing, there?s a large and impressive ensemble cast, and most of the film?s parts are engaging. Robert Downey Jr. is very good in the title role, he does a ?Jamie Fox as Ray? type of seamless imitation, but like a lot of these kind of performances I think the impression is a little more excellent than the scene to scene acting.
In spite of all these strong points, the simple fact is that Charlie Chaplin does not really prove to be a very good subject for a fully produced biographical film. I love Charlie Chaplin, but at the end of the day he was really just a dude who acted and performed in a lot of good movies. He didn?t change the world, he wasn?t a great leader, and he never fought for a cause. In fact the movie didn?t even get too deep into a lot of those good movies, most of his most famous films make brief cameos, but his actual work seems pretty secondary to this story. So what do we get? A bunch of sex scandals for the most part, but these aren?t even overly interesting sex scandals and if that?s what they wanted to make a movie about they would have been better served by the Fatty Arbuckle story. Really, I suspect that a lot of this would have been more interesting as a book where they can really bring out all these Hollywood stories and get into the minutia of his career, but on the screen its all kind of dull. And why the hell did this need to be two and a half hours long? Charlie Chaplin was no Gandhi, yet his Attenbough directed biopic is only about a half hour shorter than Gandhi?s. -
October 3, 2009
Exceptional performance from Robert Downey Jr., and it's a well detailed biopic. It appears much more accurate than most Hollywood biographies. Lavishly produced, great art direction, costumes and cinematography. The period detail is excellent. The main flaw is it is over long.
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September 30, 2009
Good acting by Robert Downey Jr. I'm a silent movie buff and really like the period, which is well done in this movie.
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September 29, 2009
A brilliant biography. Attenborough & Downey Jr bring Chaplin to life in this brutally honest adaption of his own autobiography. I particularly like Kline's Douglas Fairbanks in a supporting role.
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September 28, 2009
Fantastic cast and great storytelling. I'm not aware how close the movie is to truth but what I will say is that it all makes for a well crafted and entertaining film.
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September 20, 2009
"Syd, I love this country. I owe it everything. That's why I *can* make fun of it!"
One of my favourite biopics, and an underrated film all around, it contains Downey Jr.'s best performance, an unique ensemble cast portraying some iconic figures, and an evocative and memorable John Barry score. Chaplin's life is covered very professionally, and it's such a moving and captivating story you'll watch over and over again, and never forget. -
September 10, 2009
It's a biography about Charlie Chaplin. You know it has to be good.
Robert Downey Jr. nearly nailed him. But I can't help feeling unsatisfied compared to the true artist. Emotional.
Douglas Fairbanks: Say, are you two still married or what? I find it all very confusing.
Charlie Chaplin: Mmm... it's not at all confusing. You see, when everyone thought we were having an affair, we were married. Now that everyone realizes we're married, we're getting divorced.
Douglas Fairbanks: Man's a wizard with women. No question about it. -
September 4, 2009
A very well done film, with strong performances by the cast. Robert was truly amazing, he nailed Charlie Chaplin. His moves, his expressions, I found it to be very on point. I adored Geraldine Chaplin as well. She played her own grandmother in the film. And she did a great job, her scenes were very sad and emotional and she played well in them. I also really liked Moira Kelly who got to play two different characters both equally as endearing. I wonder now that I have seen the film, if Chaplin married her ( her second character Oona) because she looked like his first love. I mean, Im sure there was lots of other reasons, but I wonder if that was the main reason.
I am glad that I saw this film and got some insight into one of our most legendary actors. Charlie Chaplin was a truly gifted comedian, actor and director. He was very thoughtful and courageous and ahead of the curve. And he was honest, never afraid to say what he thought. It was interesting to see his life story. I loved how in the movie (and in real life) how he made everything relevant. Like with his immigration movie, or with Modern Times (that dealt with The Great Depression) or The Great Dictator(with dealt with World War 2). He wasn't afraid to push boundaries, and do something different. And I have more respect for him now.
I l think they did a great job aging Robert. Some great make-up effects. One of my favourite quotes from the film was where he was discussing how he didn't want The Tramp (his most famous character) to be in talkie. How it would take away the charm. And I have to say, I think he is absolutely right. When you have something so iconic, its hard to make a change, and to still have something great come out of it. Look at all our endless remakes these days, some of them just don't live up to the original, because the first was so special to begin with. I also loved his quote in The Great Dictator as well. Im sure at the time, he lost a lot of fans,but again I think that shows his genius and his courage to publicly take a stand and make fun of hitler, at time where Hitler was reigning. Also I love how at the end of the film when he is at the Oscars, that they actually used the real clips of Charlie Chaplin himself in the films, I thought it was a rather nice touch.
So I highly recommend you to see this film, whether you are a fan of his work, or never really knew what he was about. I think this film did a great job portraying his life, gave me some good insight.I do want to check out some Charlie Chaplin films. I already had some interest, this just re-instated it. -
September 4, 2009
Robert Downey Jr. is the only reason I wanna see this movie (only because he's SO awesome)!
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August 26, 2009
Robert Downey Jr's fantastic !!!!
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August 24, 2009
If you don't mind 'bout great characters of XX century this movie will be empty. But if you do, well, prepare yourself to cries. Robert Downey Jr is perfect in this role. And he's so sexy too!
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August 20, 2009
Robert Downey Jr. is unforgettable in the role of Charlie Chaplin! His abilites alone made this a must see. The amount of nudity was surprising for a PG-13 movie and the narration left something to be desired. But on a postitive note, I really enjoyed picking out all the popular actors, there were several. GOOD movie and interesting story of a very talented man.
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August 12, 2009
Why is it every great performer was a ladies man.. I look up to Chris Farley, he was terrible with women and got hookers so he wouldn't get lonely. Then again Chris Farley was a fat fuck. I never knew how controversial he was at the time I mean a spoof on Hitler? he's like the predecessor to David Zucker and Mel Brooks. Also kicking an immigration officer was a nono..really cool. Robery Downey Jr. could act like him look like him sound like him, great actor great movie.
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August 12, 2009
robert downey jr is great
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July 27, 2009
Downey Jr. certainly deserved his Oscar nomination for this if not a win.
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July 16, 2009
Robert Downey Jr. is absolutely unforgettable, a classic performance capturing the essence and creative genious of one of the most popular pop icons of the twentyith century. Kevin Kline is brilliant. A creative, charming, dazzeling and incredable masterpiece of a film by Director, Sir Richard Attenborough. It's truly moving, passionate, wonderfully funny and riveting. This is how a biographical film should be. A plesant, wonderful and magnificent gem. It's extroadinary, utterly excellent and breathtaking. One of the greatest films ever made.
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July 10, 2009
What a great performance and amazing movie!!
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July 4, 2009
a movie that shows chaplins life, it was good but it got boring, was hard to watch the whole movie... however it was supposed to show chaplins life and it did that in a great way.
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June 30, 2009
Makes one think about the cost of standing for what you believe.
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June 24, 2009
Nothing but splendid
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June 23, 2009
Robert Downey Jr's uncanny performance carries the whole movie from start to finish. Comeback or not, I'll always remember this as his best performance, yet. Kudos to every bit of Chaplin's artistic/physical abilities shown through the movie: on stage or in front of the camera, as part of his real life (the film cans robbery is pure genius), Downey Jr pulls it off like a master.
Excellent biopic! -
June 22, 2009
Not so much a film but an excuse to show off a lot of famous faces who never get to do anything at all during the entre 2hrs. and 25 mins. Seriously, for a life full of achievements and revolution as Chaplin's, the movie makes it look that he only really fucked a lot of women and had children like crazy. As big of a missed opportunity as a biopic could ever be. Wait, I remembered something I did love: Instead of having Downey, Jr. and the other do second-rate imitations of Chaplin's work, they instead show the actual footage from his movies. I thought it was a nice thing to do and fit really well with the movie.
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June 10, 2009
Soberbia, genial, impecable. Increíble caracterizacion realizada por Downey jr
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June 8, 2009
Aside from Downey's portrayal, there wasn't anything remarkable present. It was a slow but fair bio-pic.
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April 21, 2009
A mesmerizing biopic of the most important movie star in cinema history.
