Downey has a perfect ear for the Chaplin accent, the way it climbed from Cockney to minced posh, and a perfect boot and fist for the slapstick; the one thing he doesn't have is an eye on his own brilliance.

| Jan 3, 2018

| Original Score: D+ | Sep 7, 2011

For all the movie's undisputed competence, grand and inspired moments are thin on the ground.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 27, 2008

With this reverential biopic, director Richard Attenborough has cranked out a many-reel, talky talkie.

Full Review | Feb 27, 2008

A lot of loving care (but not much thought) went into this white elephant, and considering how fascinating a figure Chaplin is it's never exactly boring, but your time would be much better spent looking at any of Chaplin's pictures.

| Feb 27, 2008

Attenborough's very traditional biopic is a disappointment.

| Jun 24, 2006

Actually, it's a pretty bad movie, but Robert Downey Jr. is so great that you can forget nearly all of the clunky storytelling.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 21, 2005

Worthwhile for Downey's magnificent portrayal.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 15, 2004

It's slick packaging around what is mostly warm air.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | May 20, 2003

The thrill of the ending, with real Chaplin film clips, only exposes the rest as a soporific.

Full Review | May 12, 2001

This film wanders and dallies and much of it is fun to watch, but you really know about as much about Chaplin when you leave the theatre as when you enter, and what's missing is the magic.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jan 1, 2000

This is a disappointing, misguided movie that has all of the parts in place to be a much better one.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 1, 2000

The movie indulges in a rather stale flashback procedure.

| Jan 1, 2000

It's a monumental biopic that cheapens the hero's successes by glossing over the failures that surely also shaped the man.

| Jan 1, 2000

| Original Score: D+ | Dec 18, 1992