Remembering Chaplin

One of the things I love about Netflix (besides the fact that the dvds come right to my mailbox) is the chance to see films I haven't seen in years, or never seen. I wrote last week about "Fear Strikes Back," which I had recently seen for the first time. This weekend, I revisited an "oldie" I saw over ten years ago: Chaplin starring Robert Downey, Jr.

Released in 1992, this was Downey's breakout role. He'd done other films previously, but this was his first "big" role - and he won the Oscar for best actor for his performance. Looking at it now - 17 years later - it's amazing to see the magnitude of his talent. It would be easy to lament his wasted years - the years he spent drunk, drugged, and in rehab - and wonder where he'd be now had he not had this "hiatus." I choose instead to celebrate his performance in this film biography.

Downey portrays Chaplin from his early vaudeville years until his death. He perfectly captures the pathos, the unfortunate circumstances of his life, his fabulous ability with slapstick, his fatal attraction to underage women. Every role in the film seems perfectly cast - from Kevin Kline as Douglas Fairbanks to Dan Ackroyd as Mack Sennett to Moira Kelly as Oona O'Neill Chaplin. The most inspired bit of casting was Geraldine Chaplin - Chaplin's daughter - playing her own grandmother, Chaplin's mentally unstable mother.

Chaplin's journey was amazing. I have a vague memory of him receiving an honorary Oscar in 1972 - his first visit back to the US since he was exiled in 1952. He received a 5 minute standing ovation - the longest in Academy history.

As for Downey, his journey has been equally amazing and epic. 2008 was the year he truly made his comeback - with bravura appearances in "Tropic Thunder" (for which he's been nominated for Best Supporting Actor) and "Iron Man." His next big role is Sherlock Holmes - I'm really looking forward to that!

Review: Iron Man

I haven't been to a movie at the theater in several weeks - I was almost going through withdrawal. But today I caught the hottest movie of the 2008 movie year, "Iron Man."

Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, one of the world's biggest manufacturer of weapons. On a sales trip to Afghanistan, he is injured and taken hostage by some Afghani militants. Ordered to build a weapon for them, he instead builds an armored body for himself, which he uses to escape his captivity. Back in "civilization," he decides to stop building weapons and concentrate on improving life on the planet. He builds a new version of his Iron Man suit, and sets out to save the world from his crazy partner, Obadiah Stone (Jeff Bridges).

Downey (who I have a soft spot for!) was really terrific in the role. I think the fact that Iron Man has no "super powers" - everything comes from the suit he's built - makes him more compelling and certainly more interesting. Jeff Bridges is fantastic as the evil Obadiah, and Terrence Howard provides able support. A lot has been written about Gwyneth Paltrow's role as gal Friday, Pepper Potts. She's very understated, yet compelling. It's the first part I've seen her in recently that I really enjoyed.

Yes, a fun popcorn movie. Great special effects, good segments of non-stop action. But what elevates it is the wonderful character portrait by Downey. His Stark is human, flawed, heroic, and compelling. All of the other actors are good, but Downey makes it a good flick!