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Inspired by actual events that occurred in 1920s-era Los Angeles, Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" tells the story of a woman driven to confront a corrupted LAPD after her abducted son is retrieved and she begins to suspect that the boy returned to her is not the same boy she gave birth to.
Angelina Jolie: Christine Collins
Let's begin by saying that Changeling is a film that ambitiously strives and sets out upon a vast journey, delivering a powerful insight and a story from the not so distant past. What I came out with, with Changeling matched my expectations and literally blew them apart, with perfect cinematography, a perfect score, cast and Director Clint Eastwood shows his best film to date. Not only has he captured the era of the 1920s onwards, not only has he created a timeless emotionally charged account of one woman's struggle with evil and corruption but he's set about getting the ball rolling for some cataclysmic standards set for the films of 2008.
Right from the starting title you just know that Changeling is going to take your breath away and thats just the beginning. It's been a while since I've seen a film which can effect and dazzle all your emotions, I cried, I got goosebumps, I squirmed and shuddered at events transpiring. Changeling hits the nail on the head and shows us a society and it's Police with something sadly missing. What shocked me was Clint's effort to capture this, and succeed in making it relevant to today's modern world. In that sense I mean alot of the problems addressed in this film about certain aspects mirror what happens in current affairs in the US and other Countries even today. Corruption and politics are an omni-present factor of civilization.
Changeling gives us a woman who loses her boy, which is just the tip of the ice berg, it proceeds to punch it's way through our minds, like a jabbing jolt of lightning between the eyes, to show the Police, not only apparently finding her son but giving her back an imposter. We then get the Police force unable to admit making a mistake, never in the wrong and when they get a problem they magically wave their magic wand and make it go away.
There's a million things running through my head about Changeling it's hard to grasp all of them in this review, Clint Eastwood does a masterful job of blending music and visuals together equaling the times. To me this is the 1920s, theres no question about it, whether it be the costumes or cast, everything is perfect.
''Fuck you and the horse you rode on.''
The performances in Changeling are the kind of quality you come to expect from an Eastwood film. Unrivaled, unrelenting, and virtually impossible to criticize.
The leading lady, Angelina Jolie as Christine Collins, really shows Changeling IS without a doubt Angelina Jolie's best film. There is no shred of doubt in my mind that Jolie will win Best Actress at the next Oscar ceremony. Her disposition and poise the epiphany of perfection, so much so that I could sing my praises of her in this triumph all day long. One look that she gives in Changeling conveys more than any mere words could hope to achieve. Angelina practically embodies the role of Christine and moulds a fully breathing character, fully believable, fragile, victimized, a crazed mother desperately trying to get her son back.
Her appearance is flawless as is her pale complexion emphasizing her Red ruby lips. Everything about her echoes Clint's vision of how a woman should dress in this golden age.
The supporting cast were phenomenal, Jeffrey Donovan as Captain J.J. Jones was highly successful in being one of those characters you love to hate.
John Malkovich as Reverend Gustav Briegleb, was an absolute emotionally charged ally of Collins in her search. Criticizing the Police and the State for their sloppy and brutal policies of shoot first ask questions later. The fact they just want problems to go away not to be resolved really shows the people of the Law being above the Law, Gustav addresses these inadequacies of the Department well.
Devon Conti plays the boy who the Police bring back to Christine, he plays the part well. Enigmatic and weird in his ulterior motives, his scenes with Angelina are furiously charged in a blaze of a cuckoo bird scenario where an imposter young-ling takes his place in the nest. The same principle is applied here with startling results.
Capt. J.J. Jones: Mrs. Collins, your son was missing for five months, for at least part of that time in the company of an unidentified drifter. Who knows what such a disturbed individual might have done. He could have had him circumcised. He could have...
Christine Collins: ...made him shorter?
Changeling features one of the most horrendous twists and impending conclusions in the middle segments committed to any work of 2008. What transpires and happens is mind blowing, to the stage where I was starting to cry from the shock of it. It shows how a system which is flawed cannot cover up it's tracks forever, justice can take alot of time to prevail. The Lawyer defending Collins and Captain Jones questioning in court has to be one of the most engaging scenes I've seen in a while, not to mention Collins emotionally screaming at a villain and being subjected to barbaric methods in a mental institute. There is alot to offer here and alot to admire in the level of film making, the level being the very highest quality available.
Overall Changeling is a very powerful piece, resulting in one clear defining notion and answer, an answer and shining example of untarnished, unresolved defiance of a lady who never gave up and who's love for a son came first before anything. Changeling is without a doubt a passionate, human, story of timeless truth, of hope.
Christine Collins:But one thing I know is that boy gave me something I didn't have before.
Detective Lester Ybarra: What's that?
Christine Collins: Hope.
10/10
