There’s no better time to be a fan of the movies than the start of the month on Amazon Prime Video. Almost everything new on Prime Video comes out on the 1st of the month, and April is no exception. This month Prime Video added classic movies like Chinatown, To catch a thiefand Shootout at the OK Corralas well as more modern films, incl Memoirs of a Geisha, The station agentand Fighting with my family. But if you only have to watch one movie on Amazon Prime Video in April, this should be it Chaplin.
The late Richard Attenborough directed this 1992 biopic about one of the most beloved stars in Hollywood history: Charlie Chaplin. Robert Downey Jr. memorably played Chaplin as the narrative spans decades of his life, from his reign in the silent era to his decades in exile before returning for one final bow. During its release, Chaplin was met with mixed reviews, but has stood the test of time more than three decades later. Now we’re going to share five reasons why you should watch Chapin on Amazon Prime Video during your next movie night.
Robert Downey Jr. gives one of his best performances
Downey only recently won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Oppenheimer. But Chaplin gave Downey his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor when he was just 27. Downey had already established himself in the industry before with films like Weird science and Less than zerobut Chaplin observed that Downey was one of the best actors of his generation.
It certainly helped that Downey bore more than a passing resemblance to Chaplin, but that wouldn’t have been enough on its own. Downey recreates Chaplin’s physical mannerisms, his shifting accent, and he loses himself in the role. Throughout the film, it’s easy to believe that Downey is Chaplin.
It gives Charlie Chaplin his due as a Hollywood icon
Given that Chaplin’s filmography dates back to 1914, he is not as well known among modern film fans as he should be. Frankly, there isn’t much of an audience for silent films these days, and the fact that he’s still remembered to this extent speaks volumes for Chaplin’s impact.
Chaplin was criticized for cramming so much of the subject’s life into a film that’s just under two and a half hours, but had no other way to tell his story than to turn it into a television miniseries. If you take nothing else out of this film, you will appreciate Chaplin’s comedic genius and his incredible cinematic instincts, which are on full display in the archival footage of his films.
It blurs the line between Downey and Chaplin
The first two reasons on this list fit into the third. Even with modern filmmaking techniques, it would be difficult to fully recreate what Chaplin was able to do in his films.
Chaplin it actually tries to do this a few times, but it works even better during the brief scenes when the film actually includes footage of the real Chaplin in the film. As gratifying as it is to see Downey and the cast recreate Chaplin’s early films, nothing beats the impact of seeing Chaplin himself.
The cast is incredible
Downey gets most of the spotlight in this film, but he’s also surrounded by an amazing cast throughout. Anthony Hopkins appears as the editor of Chaplin’s biography, George Hayden, but even he is overshadowed by the fantastic performances of Kevin Kline (pictured above as another Hollywood icon, Douglas Fairbanks), Dan Aykroyd, James Woods and David Duchovny (The X-Files).
The women in Chaplin’s life are also well represented, with Moira Kelly in the dual roles of Chaplin’s first love, Hattie Kelly, and his fourth wife, Una O’Neill. Chaplin’s other wives are represented by Milla Jovovich, Deborah Moore and Diane Lane. Even Chaplin’s real-life daughter, Geraldine Chaplin, has a role in the film as his mother, Hannah Chaplin.
The film gives Chaplin a Hollywood ending
Compared to the focus which Chaplin dedicated to the actor’s early years, the film does not dwell too long on the scandal that effectively ended his career in America. Chaplin was accused of fathering the child of a young actress, Joan Barry (Nancy Travis), out of wedlock at a time when it was considered a major scandal.
To give the film a Hollywood ending, Attenborough jumps forward several decades to Chaplin’s return to America for the 1972 Oscars, when he finally receives recognition for his contribution to cinema. More importantly, the film ends with an extended shot of the real Chaplin, giving the actor another happy ending.
I’m watching Chaplin On Amazon Prime Video.
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