Mon, June 26, 2017
It has to be difficult, condensing a complex biography of many decades into a movie of watchable length. It has to be, considering how poorly most seasoned and talented filmmakers fare attempting it. It would help to shrug off the notion that every bio of a public figure must have its “Rosebud,” but that alone didn’t undercut Chaplin’s best potential. Anthony Hopkins’s fictionalized editor—awkwardly popping in and out to connect events or provide some crucial context—just shows how important it is to make some hard cuts and focus on one aspect or era, rather than everything. (Two narrators, an in medias res frame story, liberal use of the “five years later” title card, and archival footage, too? Something had to give.) The performances are great, though, and considering the part of Downey, Jr.’s career this falls in, that’s astonishing.
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