Modern Times

Modern Times was a very interesting movie, I always love to watch old film and this was no exception. This movie had many layers and things it addressed, and one thing I noticed right away was some of the serious situations that were presented, things like: death, overworked and mistreated workers, political and labor riots, murder, drug use, depression and harshness of the times and the frailty of life. The harshness of times and the frailty of life especially, were very apparent in this film. The other things in this list were subjects that I, until this point in time, had thought were things that were swept under the rug during this time period and not addressed, especially in film. This movie might have been made to lighten these situations, and as others have written, to show that there is still something to laugh about and a reason to continue on with life.

Through the lens it used, Modern Times portrayed the times and the themes of this time, very well. It took a lighthearted approach to show some of the harsh things people went through and saw every day. Through this lens of humor, this movie showed people what was going on, and gave a character that went through some of the same things they went through. Also, using this positive type of vehicle to showcase different situations, it did give hope, at least to me. Even though there probably wasnt much joy to be found in being out of work and resorting to extremes to make ends meet, there still could be a positive outcome, or at least something to smile about.

Another thing about this movie that caught my attention, were the cuts in the scenes, how they moved from one situation to the next, which might have just been a time constraint, but was something that resonated with me. What seemed at first to be somewhat jumpy came to be something that I viewed as part of the style and the pace of life. Things happen, and they happen hard and fast, as with most of the unfortunate events that happen in the film.

Being a comedy film, this movie obviously appealed to the viewer through emotion. Through camera work, imagery and the characters, this movie had many means to connect to its viewers. Using different angles of shots and how people were framed played a role, especially when showing the main female character. She seemed to always be in downward angled shots, which I perceived to be a means to show her as a potentially weak or troubled character, which was true to her being troubled. Charlie Chapman’s character, however, was mostly shot straight on or fully framed in the shot, probably because he was the main character, but also because he portrayed a different emotional disposition than the female lead.

Overall, Modern times was a very interesting movie and it addressed the issues of the world around it very well. The lighthearted nature of the film complimented the issues and made them more relate-able and approachable. Something that is hard to do, no matter the genre or style of movie.