This year, I took chances on two film icons I previously considered overrated: Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin. The exposure made me see they rightfully deserve the attention they get, even though I still argue many more just as talented, underrated performers need a bit more lovin'. Charlie Chaplin, in particular, has had to fight his way into my heart. Perhaps the things I read, or my Harold Lloyd preference, or the horribly biased Attenborough biopic pitted me against him (no fault of RDJ), but I still need to find that one Chaplin film that makes me "get it."
However, I like a lot of his work. I actually prefer the shorts over the full-length pictures so far. This one, "In the Park" is cute, and features some badass (sometimes obnoxious) music.
~F.
3 comments:
I respect your willingness to give popular icons a chance. I used to write them off because their hype is overblown but, to be honest, most (including Chaplin) are talented. Just not so much as to justify their superstar-status. Like you, I know too many underappreciated artists who should get more attention.
i agree with you Francy, i prefer Chaplin's short films to the features though i do enjoy them as well. the Shorts he made at mutual studios are almost one gem after another and all are worth seeing once and several worh seeing over and over again. "The Floorwalker", "The Rink", "The Cure" (a rare case of him out of his tramp persona)"The immigrant" and "Easy Street" are ones i would recommend you check out if you havent seen them already.
for his features, i still have a few to see, but i really love City Lights. the end always destroys me, lol!
Marilyn- i still have a tough time with her sometimes but in certain things it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role. and she did photograph well no doubt! but subtlety was not her strong point. i always remember a quote from Alfred Hitchcock- "Poor marilyn Monroe, she has sex written all over her face"
Oh wow, leave it to Hitchcock!
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