Chaplin (1992)

Directed by Richard Attenborough. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Hopkins, Paul Rhys, Kevin Kline, Moira Kelly, Dan Aykroyd, Diane Lane, Penelope Ann Miller, John Thaw, Geraldine Chaplin, Kevin Dunn, Milla Jovovich, Nancy Travis, Deborah Moore, Maria Pitillo, Marisa Tomei, James Woods, David Duchovny. [PG-13]

Handsomely-mounted and reverent biography of the iconic comedian/filmmaker, Charlie Chaplin, effectively played with melancholy gusto by Downey Jr. in his first Oscar-nominated performance. Alas, aside from the meticulous production details and solid supporting cast, the rest of the film falls far short of his near-greatness, cramming in way too many stops on the bus route of the man’s life. The script, employing the rickety structure of extended flashbacks within framing sequences where an elderly Chaplin is writing his autobiography with the help of a fictional writer played by Hopkins, tries to cover his childhood, his start in vaudeville, his breakthrough in motion pictures, his super stardom, his many wives and tabloid scandals, the antagonism from J. Edgar Hoover (Dunn), his hatred of fascism and the rise of the Nazi party, and on and on. Too little effort is made to explain anything about its subject, however, and he’s presented with only slightly more depth than his films ever made of the Little Tramp character. Much is shown, little is absorbed, and everything is far too rushed for insight; only the early scenes at the beginning of the genius’ career—either onstage or working for Mack Sennett (Aykroyd)—have any sort of lasting influence. Kline actually manages to squeeze more empathy out of his portrayal of swashbuckling star Douglas Fairbanks than anyone else involved, including Chaplin himself. Interested parties are better off sticking to the best of the literary biographies and watching his classic comedies. Photographed by Sven Nykvist; John Barry cannibalizes from past efforts (Dances with Wolves, Out of Africa, etc.) for the film score. As Charlie’s mentally-ill mum, Geraldine Chaplin portrays her own grandmother onscreen.

48/100