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Movie Review: Modern Times (1936) March 12, 2009
Note: This is #10 in my 52 Classic Movies in 52 Weeks challenge for 2009.
This sorta silent comedy film by Charlie Chaplin features one of the last appearances of his Little Tramp character. I enjoyed it, though in a lot of ways it's less funny and MUCH more subversive and contains a lot more social satire than the the other two Chaplin movies I've seen. Modern Times tackles issues related to industrialization, dehumanization of workers, the joblessness of the Great Depression, crime, and worker rights. But in a satirical, funny way. You've got Chaplin being cute and charming and zany and all that, but you've also got some darker stuff like his having a nervous breakdown after being treated inhumanely by his factory job, taking (albeit accidentally) drugs, and inciting civil unrest (again, accidentally).
Still, it's warm and funny in places. My favorite bit was where Chaplin was volunteered to demonstrate an automatic feeding machine that would allow factory owners to eliminate the lunch break by force feeding them on the job. Of course, the contraption malfunctions with amusing results, and the Tramp literally takes it on the chin ("it" in this case being pie). I was also impressed by how prescient the movie was in regards to subjects like employee privacy rights and workplace monitoring --the factory owner watches over his employees via a very Orwellian surveillance system that was probably way ahead of its time.
The last thing I really have to say is that The Little Tramp really does belong in the same category as characters such as Tom and Jerry, the Pink Panther, and Wile E. Coyote --he shouldn't talk. Even when he's just singing faux French gibberish in the movie's final scene, it just didn't feel right. Still, the movie is amusing enough and it's fun to see how Chaplin dispels or otherwise deals with some pretty anxiety-producing topics.
Next week: Swing Time --a musical! Great.
Also this week: Jeremy reviews Jerimiah Johnson. And Paul reviews Annie Hall.
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Tags: Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times, Movies
