A generation of movie fans learned Robert Downey Jr. know as Tony Stark, some have been fans of the ‘Iron Man’ star since the legal series ‘Ally McBeal’. But eight years before the start of the cult hit series and 16 years (!) before the start of the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. slipped. in the role of an unforgettable film legend. For this performance he immediately received his first Oscar nomination – his second and so far last came in the late 2000s for the satire ‘Tropic Thunder’.
We’re talking about the Charlie Chaplin biopic ‘Chaplin’, in which Downey took on the title role, which met a brutal demise in Germany: fewer than 20,000 people saw the drama in cinemas. This should be better on TV: “Chaplin” runs today, October 29, 2023, from 8:15 PM on arte. Alternatively, you can buy or rent the film on VOD through Prime Video:
Good to know: If you FILM LEGENDS* If you subscribe to Prime Video Channels, you can stream Downey’s First Dance with the Academy at no additional cost. Perhaps also to get you in the mood for the approaching Oscar season, in which he will most likely be involved thanks to his supporting role in “Oppenheimer”…
‘Chaplin’: From emergency solution to film icon
Switzerland in the 1970s: an elderly Charlie Chaplin (Robert Downey Jr.) meets his publisher George Hayden (Anthony Hopkins). Shortly before the planned publication of Chaplin’s autobiography, he had some critical questions about various inconsistencies. So Chaplin summarizes his life face to face:
How at the age of five he had to take his mother’s place as a substitute in the theater. How he lost his father at a young age because he died due to alcohol addiction. It’s about the creation of the legendary ‘Tramp’ character, his rise to millionaire status, the founding of the influential studio United Artists – and his love affairs…
‘Chaplin’ is a detailed nod to the work of one of the most important actors and directors of the early Hollywood era. This is not only reflected in countless small references to Chaplin’s work. Director Richard Attenborough even changes the film style at one point, turning the biographical drama into a slapstick comedy that blurs the boundaries between Chaplin’s life and work.
However infectious Attenborough’s enthusiasm for Chaplin’s art is, the director describes his life in a somewhat more detached manner. In doing so, he avoids the kitsch of many comparable biopics. However, he can also be criticized for not opting for a concrete approach to Chaplin as a person: the film ignores some unpleasant aspects of Chaplin’s personality, but also captures some happy moments in a relatively cool way.
Regardless, the ensemble shines. Whether it’s Geraldine Chaplin, playing her own grandmother, Diane Lane, Dan Aykroyd, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Kline as former Hollywood greats or (above all) Downey in the title role: Downey completely disappears into the character of Charlie Chaplin without losing himself in pure imitationeffortlessly bridging the gap between Chaplin’s screen persona, his ruthless businessman self and the complicated private Chaplin.