Chaplin (15th Anniversary Edition) – DVD Review

By Dana Rae Oct 23, 2008, 13:03 GMT

ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. captures the essence of comic genius Charlie Chaplin in a compelling, nuanced performance that earned him Oscar(r) and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor. Director Richard Attenborough\'s well-crafted portrait traces Chaplin\'s impoverished London upbringing, extraordinary success as an actor and director, his troubled marriages, scandalous affairs, shocking exile to Switzerland and his triumphant return to Hollywood. The huge star-studded cast includes KEVIN KLINE, DAN AYKROYD, MILLA JOVOVICH, ...more

The legend of Charles Chaplin spans the silver screen of the cinematic world in its golden glow. His poignant comic genius spanned half a century, from silent film to talkies.

The real Chaplin is an enigma, a conundrum of vices versus talent. Still, one can not study film and not fall hopelessly in love with his work. Credited as a huge success, the film won Robert Downey, Jr. an Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA award as well as Golden Globe nominations.

This 15th anniversary edition features a newly re-mastered widescreen version of the film and several all new bonus materials. 

Along with Robert Downey, Jr. as Charles Chaplin, the film is boosted by stellar cast including Dan Akyroyd, Anthony Hopkins, Moira Kelly, Kevin Kline, Diane Lane, and James Woods.

The opening of the film is as poetic as Chaplin’s work: Chaplin’s editor (played by Hopkins) discusses Chaplin’s autobiography with him. Chaplin is seen taking off his make-up, ridding himself of the special effects of his famous Tramp character.

Downey plays the great actor with equal sadness and comedy, matching the genius of Chaplin with his own remarkable talents. Downey manages to not just play Chaplin, he becomes Chaplin, which is the essence of true acting.

Told in a flashback, Chaplin reluctantly talks of his life to his editor. The pain of his childhood emerges - wretched poverty, his mother going insane. He and his brother Sydney were forced into a series of workhouses. At the prompting of his brother, Chaplin auditions for a part and the journey into a career in film begins. 

Because he saw his mother fall apart on stage and the audience throws things at her, Chaplin had an incessant need for perfection in his work. The scene where the little boy Chaplin saves his mother from the irate crowd by singing a song is very heart wrenching.

Throughout his life, he strove for that perfection, and this scene in particular makes you view Chaplin’s work and life in new shades of light and shadow, good and bad, the man and the man behind the make-up. 

As Chaplin talks to his editor, the film journeys through Chaplin’s long life - his invention of ‘The Little Tramp’ character; his many marriages; his exile to Switzerland and his ultimate return to Hollywood. 

Downey’s performance transcends the normalcy a Hollywood generated life-of-an-icon turned-into-a-movie. Told as a dramatized biography of the highs and lows of Chaplin’s life, Downey manages to shine in this film, and I truly believe that this is one of his greatest achievements as an actor.

It is exhaustingly difficult to play a role that people know so well and have preconceived notions of, and even adding to that difficulty is that not only was he playing Chaplin himself, but the creative genius of Chaplin - The Little Tramp character.

Not only did he have to learn the mannerisms of the real Chaplin, but he had to recreate The Tramp. In doing a role within a role, the challenge there lies therein is hard to master, but Downey does so and not just in moderate tones, but pays an excellent homage to two of the greatest of cinema history: Charles Chaplin and The Little Tramp.

The special features included are a great reason to buy this edition. There is a retrospective interview with director Richard Attenborough, a never before seen home movie of Chaplin on vacation, a new featurette on Chaplin with several interviews, and a documentary look at Chaplin (‘The Most Famous Man in the World’) - who in the days before our technology, he was mobbed by adoring fans and thus becoming the first pop culture icon. There is also a theatrical trailer included. 

The special features alone make this well worth the money to own this fifteenth year anniversary edition, but Downey’s performance is one of a lifetime, the life time of Charles Spencer Chaplin.

Chaplin (15th Anniversary Edition) is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for this version of the DVD in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.