From: alanj@ibmpcug.co.uk (Alan Jay)
Subject: Re: Chaplin
Organization: The IBM PC User Group, UK.
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 15:14:03 GMT

In article <1992Dec19.091409.20845@cs.wisc.edu> michaili@blondie.cs.wisc.edu (Afroditi Michailidi) writes:
>
>
>_Chaplin_ is the long awaited film about the life of Charlie Chaplin. Directed
>by Richard Attenborough and with a host of stars including Robert Downey, Jr,
>Kevin Kline, Anthony Hopkins and Geraldine Chaplin (Chaplin's real life
>daughter who, in a twist, plays his mother), this film sets out to be the
>very definition of epic biography, pure and simple. It almost succeeds.
>
>The problem is, it tries too hard. I found some of the scenes too loaded for
>my tastes. At times I was almost glad the director was constricted by real life
>events and could not use all of the plot devices he otherwise might have. And,
>my feeling is, some of the material was not epic to begin with -- that might
>well be my serious gripe with this film.
>
>The movie is of epic length too, being over 2hrs 20mins long. I found it slow
>in developping.  On the other hand, I do not think that cutting any of the
>introduction would improve it; the film carries you along little by little
>until you are engulfed and immersed in its tale; only by detailing as many
>events as possible can it achieve that effect.



I agree that it almost succeeds but for different reasons.
This is a very european movie in many ways.  It is very
close to not being mainstream.  It tells is story well (The
early scenes were excellent) but I feel it uses some
unecessary devices to tell the story.

The Fictional biographer did not really work for me.  THe
idea early on in the film of the Old chaplin talking to the
Biographer worked and could have been used to prod the story
as the visual flash forwards did but without taking as much
time or being so intrusive.  As soon as we flashed forward
to 1962 the pace of the story telling slackend off, for no
particular reason as the story itself told us most of what
we needed to know.  OK I can understand the use of the
device but it was the only element of the film that really
got to me.


>
>Robert Downey Jr, does a wonderful job as Chaplin. I even began to think of
>him as Chaplin midway through the film. The supporting cast is excellent too,
>particularly Kevin Kline as Douglas Fairbanks.

Agreed

>Bonus points for the ending -- it is really the stuff that cinema is made of.

As CHAPLIN leaves the US I started to get worried how the
film would end, or rather how the film would be ended on a
high.  I agree there was a dgree of success with the end but
there were a couple of crass moments getting there most
notable the 10 years later caption on the veranda in
Switzerland.

>
>In conclusion, I found this to be a very good and entertaining film, although
>dragging in some places. 

Yes I agree entertaining BUT NOT dragging.  I certainly
didn't think it was a drag but I definately got the feeling
that the Audience I saw it with contained a number of people
who left before the end.

>                         A masterpiece it is not, which is rather dissapointing
>considering the cast, director and script material. However, the film makes up
>for it, if only for its ending. I'd rate it a 9- on my personal scale i.e.
>reccomended with some reservations.

I'm not sure I rate it quite that high but I will still be
recommending it to my friends when it goes on general
release.

ALan
-- 
Alan Jay                                    The PC User Group, PO Box 360,
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