A courageous, smart and resonant satire that's just as important today as it was when it was first released.

Rating: 9/10 (9 May 2018)

'The Great Dictator (1940)' is a smart, pointed and subversive satire that's all the more impressive when you take into account the fact it was made during a time when most people weren't keyed into the true nature of the Nazis, nor was the full extent of either the war or Hitler's atrocities underway. I'd consider this Chaplin's finest film precisely because it is so brave, boldly taking a stance against a very real threat and using its comedy to send a message of love for all humanity at a time when the world needed it the most, and would soon need it even more. Its satire is used in a number of ways: to lampoon dictatorships, as well as a certain someone in particular; to heighten the ultimately ridiculous and power-hungry motives of its targeted regimes; and to create sympathy for those being unjustly persecuted. It is comedy that works on many levels and the balance between the usual slapstick 'Chaplin' style with the more pointed satirical stuff is a usually deft one. The flick brings everyone down to the same level and never seems mean-spirited. It makes sure to include some darker elements, though, so as not to make light of the situation entirely. Indeed, its slapstick asides do ever-so-often seem slightly too immature compared to its real darkness and on-point political themes. This is never a true problem, however, and the sequences in question don't last for too long, while also serving a purpose. There are some jokes that cut too close to the bone, though - since they sometimes have a startling and sobering accuracy, unseen when they were first made. These are impossible to laugh at nowadays, unlike the more general jokes which can be taken for what they are despite the gravity generally associated with them. The piece also takes somewhat of a slow detour towards its final movement, during which time the heart of the story is sort of lost. However, this flick still resonates strongly today. Its timeless message is told with an endearing execution, whether that be through its direct final speech or through its layered satire. The film has a point and makes tells it well, actually feeling incredibly important. It's just as impactful 78 years after its release, perhaps more so. It is also an interesting historical study about using your medium to take a stand, even if everyone else tells you not to. 9/10