Helio This is film of great performances. Robert Downey Jr is incredible as Charlie Chaplin. Kevin Kline is an excellent Douglas Fairbanks. Geraldine Ctaplin is splendid playing her own grandmother. Maria Pitillo has too small a role as Mary Pickford. It is one of Milla Jovovich's early roles when she was sixteen but looks older. Kevin Dunne is persuasive as J Edgar Hoover. Dan Akroyd is his annoying self as Mack Sennet. Diane Lane offers up a compelling Paulette Goddard. James Wood is a grating lawyer. David Duchovny and Marisa Tomei also have roles. Downey was rightfully nominated for an oscar for his role but lost out to Al Pacino (in Scent of a Woman).The telling of the story was interrupted with irritating scenes of Chaplin discussing his autobiography with his publisher. It seems these might be ways around parts of the biography that were unclear or left out.The film offered glimpses into the silent era of Hollywood and documented some of the tribulations that Charlie Chaplin encountered in his life. Like any movie it couldn't do justice to a fifty year career but was a remarkable effort.

svikasha Charlie Chaplin is truly a character. On the screen, as well as off the screen, for nearly a century, Charlie Chaplin held a position of esteem within the domain of cinema that can never be topped. Those who have read the autobiography that this film is based on will go into the film knowing that Charlie Chaplin was as iconic on-screen as he was vulnerable in print. His autobiography is a very honest account. Unlike many biopics, "Chaplin" doesn't take the cheap route of portraying an unflawed and idealized version of the iconic actor. The film confronts his shortcomings that the actor was courageous to admit. Chaplin, was at various times, a serial womanizer who engaged in more than one "age inappropriate" relationship throughout the course of his life. Like many any Hollywood and the film industry, Chaplin often abused his power in the industry to take advantage of star struck women. This self-destructive tendency to get into troublesome relationships plagues Chaplin throughout his entire adult life. But from all of these imperfections, emerges an individual who was a deeply troubled artist struggling to come to terms with both his art and the global nature of his fame. Although the movie seems inadequate at times, overall, the 1992 film "Chaplin" starring Robert Downey Jr. is a humanistic portrayal that is just as beautiful as the person it portrays. "Chaplin" follows Charlie Chaplin's life from his humble origins in England all the way to fame and fortune in Hollywood. Although Chaplin was born and worked as an actor in England, his pursuit of an acting career eventually takes him to Montana in the United States where he inadvertently begins a film career that would turn him into a global icon. The film does use some rags to riches clichés. When Chaplin was first in England, he had trouble getting into restaurants because of his affiliation with theater which was looked down upon by high society. Years later, when he returned to England after spending years making films, the crowd that came to see him was so large that he needed a police escort just to get off of his train. Yet, it is that very recognizable identity and fame that made it difficult for the young Chaplin to call anywhere other than Hollywood home. Charlie Chaplin was not afraid to step into politics and make his voice heard. As an artist, such genuine passion is truly commendable. But this characteristic often made Chaplin a target. Fortunately, "Chaplin" doesn't shy away from portraying this part of Charlie Chaplin's distinguished life. Although Chaplin had adopted the United States as his home, during the tense time of the Cold War, Chaplin ended up being targeted for his beliefs. After years of undue suspicion and malicious court cases, Chaplin was kicked out of the country in 1952 as a tragic victim of McCarthyism. The film makes it a point to convey that Chaplin's film career was inextricably tied to the man's political and social views. In fact, at a time when filmmakers were questioning the role of cinema as a form of social commentary, Chaplin was a pioneer in making silent films that spoke volumes about the contemporary society of the time.But the greatest point in Chaplin's esteemed career came at the worst point for humanity itself. While the world was tearing itself apart fighting a second world war, Chaplin stood up, made a risky film about Adolph Hitler himself, and told the world, "Do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish". The real Charlie Chaplin was not just an actor. He was the voice of a generation. To his credit, Robert Downey Junior does justice to what is truly a very difficult role.A tear might actually roll down your cheek by the time you get to the end of this movie. In the final scene, Chaplin, weakened by old age and a full life, confronts the timelessness of the art form he created. People will always remember him as a version of himself that even he no longer remembers. A tear rolls down Chaplin's cheek on screen. Chaplin's career was a culmination of being a talented actor, at the right place, at the right time. Charlie Chaplin may have died in 1977, but the global reach and timelessness of Chaplin's work endures. "Chaplin" the film is a touching homage to a truly remarkable individual. At the end of his life, Chaplin told everyone that time was his greatest enemy. But there is much reason to disagree with this assertion. Time is the medium through which films work their magic. Chaplin manipulated time in his pictures to capture a perspective of the human experience that can touch audiences a century later with equal effectiveness. Time is his greatest friend.

Ines HB For me this movie was really good and really interesting, because I think that Charles Chapling is one of the biggest icon of the cinema history. Knowing more about who was him and how did he become an actor was good. In my point of view Robert Downey Jr. made a really good work in this film, but that the character of Charles Chapling was a little challenging for him, because represent such an important person in the history, for me, has to be kind of "perfect", i mean, give the character the authenticity that Charles used to have might be pretty difficult, and Robert made a really good job on that. I will recommend this movie to the film lovers, and the people who enjoy the cinema. I also particularly like the way that this movie is filmed, it has the style of the oldest films, and it makes it look more real, like it was actually Charles Chapling's documental, and not a new modern movie that talks about him.

evanlivi This film was very informative about Charlie Chaplin's life prior to seeing this movie the only things I knew about Chaplin was that he was involved in old films that may have been comedies (I wasn't sure). As for enjoyment, I think it makes a good drama albeit far from amazing. through the film I learned almost the entirely of his life and as enjoy learning about someone's life I did quite enjoy it. Although if you aren't interested in his life I wouldn't suggest it. The film is however a riveting tale of love, progress and social injustice. All around it is an excellent bibliography that taught me not only about the life of an amazing actor but also about the film industry and the times as a whole. if you are interested in film it is a must see if not than its pretty hit or miss.