Speaking of Excellence

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2013)

Unforgettable political satire that was tumultuously topical and cannot be realized today with any real assimilation of place and time. It was a brave and biting commentary on the Headlines of the day and prophetically postured what was to be uncovered.
A marvelous and unsettling, in retrospect, account of the marching goose-steps of Gestapo tactics and unnatural Nationalism and Fascism. In 1940 this was funny, as it is today, but in just a short time after its release its subject matter could only elicit nervous, under the breath, reluctant half-smiles.
It is a graceful and searing poke in the eye at a megalomaniacal Leader of a Sheeple population that was mesmerized by psychological tricks and economic persuasion. A suffering Nation transformed into a War Machine through pomp and circumstance. The Film and its Director held little back as it made an attempt at shedding some light on the absurdities yet to be unveiled.
This is a Masterpiece, high Art in its relevance and in hindsight a predetermined cry-out for sanity in what was becoming a completely unhinged and insane World. There are many laughs here as well as intellectual insights and it is all so well produced and perceived that it remains today a testament to Humanity's struggle to stay relatively Human in inhuman situations.
There is hardly a false note here and this can be regarded as one of the most poignant views and commentaries on the forces of Evil ever seen through the lens of Motion Picture prognostications and empathetic concerns. One of the best from one of the best...Charlie Chaplin.