Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times is both an uproarious comedy and a searing indictment of technological advances. The humor, while not as strong or as flawless as in City Lights, is still light years ahead of 90% of what you see in any contemporary comedy. The message and thematics, on the other hand, are where the film really excels. They are not only better than 90% of what you see in any contemporary drama, but also better than what you see in any of his other work. It is altogether fluid, consistent, and powerful without being glossed over, annoying, or blunt. This may be the most entertaining and enjoyable movie I have seen that managed to be equally thought-provoking and intelligent.
The movie follows our lovable tramp and a vagrant girl as they get tossed around by the randomness and injustice of the world. Both fight against conformity and the overwhelming pressures of a herd mentality. Of course the movie uses the factory as a representation of our loss of individuality and humanity (expressed perhaps most vividly in the now famous scene where the tramp is physically propelled through the cogs of a machine) but it is easily updated to our own modern times. How many people do you see surfing the internet on their laptops in coffeeshops? How many people do you see walking the streets with bowed heads typing out emails on their BlackBerrys? We are often forced into such a technological behemoth to live and function, but the movie urges us to escape: to sacrifice our chance at success in order to live a more fulfilling life.
Technically, Chaplin is still a master. The music is reminiscent of greater works (Rhapsody in Blue, for example), but tweaked just enough to properly set the stage. His camera movements are natural and evocative, his compositions superb. The pacing and editing are immaculate; so much is said in so little. The acting is pitch-perfect. Chaplin effortlessly walks the line between expressive and over-the-top. He brings a love and tenderness to his character that makes us empathize with him to the point where we want to jump into the picture itself and hug him. And then he makes us explode with laughter. Here we see a genius and a true auteur at his creative peak, and we are in awe at what he is able to accomplish.
The movie is not without a few minor flaws. As I said previously, it is not his funniest work. Much of the plot seems to wander between scenes with little coherence or relation to each other, although that is perhaps its point. And while I like the message for the discussion it can bring up, I don't completely agree with its implications. Maybe I am in denial and just don't want to agree. Still, this is a must-see classic that I cannot imagine will be soon forgot. Unless, of course, it doesn't get re-transfered onto the latest generation higher-definition video discs.IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027977/