Mobile
Film Reviews
Monday, September 24, 2012
Film / Film News / Film Reviews Modern Times at EpiCentre tonight
Posted By Matt Brunson on Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 1:31 PM
By Matt Brunson
MODERN TIMES (1936)
****
DIRECTED BY Charles Chaplin
STARS Charles Chaplin, Paulette Goddard
The American Film Institute named Some Like It Hot as the best comedy of all time; the IMDb voters currently have Forrest Gump ranked as the best comedy; Rotten Tomatoes' critical mass holds Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb as the pinnacle of comedic perfection; four different British media outlets designated Monty Python's Life of Brian as best of the best; and this nation's frat boys would doubtless consider The Hangover the greatest comedy ever made. My pick? It has long been Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times, although folks who cite either Chaplin's City Lights or The Gold Rush can certainly defend their choice.
Chaplin's works were always a blend of inspired comedy, unforced poignancy and sharp social commentary, and these elements were arguably best combined in this riotous satire in which Chaplin's Little Tramp — the last time he would ever play this beloved character — has trouble finding, and then retaining, employment. Hunger, homelessness and the uncaring attitude of the American workplace all figure in the proceedings, making Modern Times as topical today as when it was first released.
Yet for all its heavy subjects, this is a comedy first and foremost, and as such, it features some of Chaplin's most brilliant — and most hilarious — set pieces. The various factory (at the beginning) and restaurant (at the end) sequences are deservedly legendary, although I always laugh the hardest during the wonderfully staged skating segment.
(A 35mm presentation of Modern Times will be held at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Sept. 24, at EpiCentre Theatres, 210 E. Trade St. The screening is free for Charlotte Film Society members as part of the organization's 30th Anniversary celebration. Those who are not CFS members can sign up for membership at the event and receive two more free screenings this week — Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood Tuesday and Abbas Kiarostami's Taste of Cherry Wednesday — as well as other CFS benefits.)
Friday, September 21, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: Trouble with the Curve; The Master; Compliance
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Sep 21, 2012 at 4:46 PM
- Magnolia Pictures
- Compliance
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: Premium Rush; The Expendables 2
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Aug 24, 2012 at 4:08 PM
- Lionsgate
- The Expendables 2
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: ParaNorman; Neil Young Journeys
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 3:40 PM
- Focus Features
- ParaNorman
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: The Campaign; Ruby Sparks; The Bourne Legacy; Hope Springs
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Aug 10, 2012 at 2:19 PM
- Warner Bros.
- The Campaign
Click on the link to be taken directly to the review.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Review: Total Recall
Posted By Matt Brunson on Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 12:03 AM
Friday, July 20, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: The Dark Knight Rises; Beasts of the Southern Wild
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 6:06 PM
- Warner Bros.
- The Dark Knight Rises
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
And to check out our look at all the live-action Batman movies to date, go here.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: Savages; Magic Mike
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Jul 6, 2012 at 4:16 PM
- Universal
- Savages
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
And don't forget about this past Tuesday's opener:
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: The Amazing Spider-Man; Ted; People Like Us; Your Sister's Sister; Moonrise Kingdom
Posted By Matt Brunson on Sat, Jun 30, 2012 at 8:30 AM
- Columbia & Marvel
- The Amazing Spider-Man
Friday, June 22, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: Brave; Seeking a Friend for the End of the World; Rock of Ages; That's My Boy
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 3:45 PM
- Disney & Pixar
- Brave
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
-
Lunch Break (9/1/16): Organizers unveil "People, Not Polluters" platform in Charlotte as McCrory officials testify in Raleigh
The morning already passed us by. What the hell happened?
-
Jigsaw, Dating App That Hides Users’ Faces, launches in Charlotte, NCTo Fight Superficial Dating App Culture 3
-
Question the Queen City: The story of Mabel Rea 4
The Charlotte native went Hollywood, returned home and met a tragic demise.
