MovieChat Forums > Chaplin (1993) Discussion > I despise this movie

I despise this movie

posted 20 years ago by aint_been_to_no_music_school
45 replies | jump to latest

I'm a huge Charlie Chaplin fan. I've loved his movies tremendously since I first saw "The Kid" when I was 10. Charlie Chaplin was a man that took pride in the finished piece of a movie, not caring or wanting people to know the details of how it was made. It seems he lived his life in a similar fashion. This movie absolultely pulls apart Charlie's sex life and personal life. It doesn't celebrate his genius or his work. He chose to leave out parts of his life on purpose, because he didn't particularly want people to know about it. This movie is a complete kick in the face to Charlie Chaplin. One quote that I feel that summed up Charlie's life was: "If you want to understand me, watch my movies." It made me sad to watch them do this to him in this movie, because from being such a die-hard fan of his and watching all of his movies more times than I can count, I almost feel like I know him. That's why I just despise this movie.

Insert witty signature here.

[–] FizzyGillespie 15 years ago

That's because the film wasn't about his movies. It was about his personal life. That was its intent. Hence the tag line from the film "Everyone has a wild side. Even a legend."

[–] Felixthecat34213 10 years ago

Oh come on...stop 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 10 years ago

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

You, sir, are an ass.

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