Movies with Matteo

Some movies are so influential that they can withstand the test of time. An example of this is the 1936 Charlie Chaplin film Modern Times. This movie, primarily silent, is shot entirely black and white. The thing that makes Modern Times so timeless is how relevant a lot of the topics in it are, 88 years later. A major plot point of the film follows the character played by Chaplin, known as Little Tramp. He works at a technologically advanced factory, and the owners of the factory are always scheming up new ways to maximize productivity (and, in doing this, minimize worker rights). The conflict really reaches a boiling point when the owner of the factory tests out a machine that will automatically feed workers, which would get rid of lunch breaks in their entirety. The machine malfunctions, causing Chaplin to get absolutely covered in food. This leads to him going awry and causing chaos in the factory, which leads to him getting fired. Although mainly played for laughs, the film also critiques how factories treat their workers. Although released close to a century ago, the issue of bad treatment against workers is still very prominent, especially thanks to modern novelties such as Amazon, Shein, and Temu. 

The film is nothing short of genius. It’s funny but also has a lot to say about issues plaguing our industrial institutions. The film has a very clever sense of humor that relies more on comedic acting rather than raunch. Although modern, hard R comedies such as Superbad, This is the End, and Coming to America are funny in their own way, they are not nearly as inventive or clever as Modern Times. 

A timeless classic, Modern Times has something for everyone. This is a must watch movie that the whole family can enjoy.