Chaplin [DVD]

really interesting heartning look at chaplins life story. great acting by robert downey junior

In my opinion, a classic! This beautifully shot film by Sir Richard Attenborough is often overlooked. Robert Downey Jnr's portrayal of Chaplin is masterful - it's like you been transported back in time and are actually watching him as Hollywood is born and begins to flourish from the early days. One of my all-time favourite films.

Great film history in the making RDJ at his best with the film packed with stars

Despite first rate performances and solid direction the somewhat pedestrian and misguided script concept fails to deliver. The dvd transfer (and blu-ray too) are equally disappointing. This is not a first rate biopic but it passes the time pleasantly enough. One of Lord Attenborough’s less successful ventures.

So.Acting: faultless. Loadsa celebs to pepper the story.The story. This is the thing I've issue with. To b blunt, Charlie Chaplin is a paedophile. And people still adore him cos he's seen as this comic genius.There's something wrong with that.I think there's an intention to the viewer to b sympathetic to the actual real life Chaplin. I can't bring myself to do that. This opinion may have coloured my general distaste for the film and all to do with Charlie Chaplin.Of the film portrayal, I've this pervasive image of a person who is self absorbed, sleazy and perverse creep. Who is....slightly talented. Above all a character I can't sympathise with whatsoever.But. As I said a good, interesting enough film, due to solid acting performances. It's not RDJ's finest hour, that is in Avengers Endgame.

Sound was not great, difficult to follow at times

there are those reviewers who say this has not captured Chaplin, that this has been left out and that ... they are missing the point. 2 1/2 hours (or thereabouts) cannot, in any way shape or form capture 88 years. People have to be left out, visits and countries have to be left out. What you have is a condensation of a life as rich and full and varied and in some ways magical as any life could be. I found RDJ's performance highly moving. I found the sequences to be right, why not mimic the silent movies here and there? It is what the Tramp was all about, after all. It was obvious a link had to be found to bring the story to fruition and the best link is a fictitious person asking questions about the autobiography, questions which I will no doubt raise when I read it (any time soon. When Amazon get it to me!) But then again, we all leave convenient gaps in our life history, things we do not want to talk about.The filming was superb. I didn't expect to be held for the entire time of the film but I was. Richness of background, characterisation, everything a biopic should be. And if you feel it has not captured The Man Himself, then that is every reason to get all his films on DVD and to read his book too. I am sure he would be more than pleased to know you were doing it.Meantime, I have had a deeply rewarding experience in watching this film, and am sure it will not be the last time I watch it, either.

I love Chaplin and really enjoyed the film. It does spend more time focusing on his private life than on the films he made but this is more than compensated for, by the astonishing portrayal of Charlie Chaplin by Robert Downey Jr. I think it is the best role he has ever played.