Chaplin (1992): Underappreciated or Just Okay?

Okay, cinephiles! It's Sarah here (cinephile_sarah), and I just rewatched "Chaplin" (1992) for a class project. I'm a huge fan of the man himself, obviously, but I'm honestly a bit torn on the biopic. Robert Downey Jr. nails the physicality, especially the Little Tramp stuff. Seriously, the way he moves and recreates those iconic scenes is incredible. I was particularly captivated by the recreation of the "Modern Times" factory scene, and then later the part where he had to film the same scene numerous times to get the perfect take. That must have been exhausting. But did anyone else find the rest of the movie a bit… flat? Like, the structure felt kinda clunky with the whole autobiography framing device. And while the personal life stuff was interesting (the drama with the women, the run-in with the FBI), it felt a bit too rushed. Like they were trying to cram too much in. I found myself wanting more focus on his creative process beyond just the physical performance. What were his influences? How did he develop his specific brand of visual comedy? Specifically, did anyone else wish they explored the cinematography and visual storytelling of his silent films more, considering it's such a huge part of Chaplin's legacy? They showed it being created, but they didn't really tell us much in a cinematic way, if that makes sense. I feel like I missed a golden opportunity to show more about how he created his shots. What were his specific choices? How did that elevate the message? I know it's a biopic, not a film school lesson, but still! So, am I being too critical? Or do others feel like the film, while having amazing performances, kinda missed a beat when it came to really digging into what made Chaplin a cinematic genius? I'm genuinely curious to hear your thoughts!