Changeling

I used to tell Walter, "Never start a fight... but always finish it." I didn't start this fight... but by god I'm going to finish it.

Clint Eastwood proves yet again that he doesn’t know how to make bad films.

As if Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Letters From Iwo Jima weren’t good enough, Clint Eastwood delivers us another hard hitting drama. Changeling tells the story of Christine Collins, a single mother in the 1920s whose son is kidnapped. When a child is found and delivered to her by the LAPD, she vehemently denies that the child is her son, and the story goes on a plotline exploring a serial killer and LAPD corruption.

Angelina Jolie leads the outstanding cast as Christine Collins. It is wonderful to see that Angelina is returning to good scripts and good roles. Like sociopathic Lisa in Girl, Interupted, Jolie nails this role dead on. She became the woman whose son was taken from her, radiating intensely every emotion a mother in this kind of distress might feel. It is easily the most powerful role I have seen her in, and I will be appalled – not for the first time – at the Academy if she isn’t put up for Best Actress this year.

Clint Eastwood is famous for his time pieces, and, once again, he has proved that he can do his homework with visual detail. The costumes, props, lighting, and general scenery were all well done and give the viewer an undoubting visual sense of the 1920s. It is by no means the most important aspect of the film, but it helps create something aesthetically astounding.

The film’s most important aspect is, like every great movie, its themes. In this case, the most prevalent theme is the corruption of the Los Angeles Police Department. If gave me chills to know that the LAPD actually had people who were exploiting their failures institutionalized. And this is a true story! It really opened my eyes a bit – perhaps I should trust no one? Another theme this film explores is a mother’s unconditional love for her child – brilliantly portrayed through Jolie’s Christine Collins. The end scene of the film almost had me in tears. But, it still didn’t make me waterlogged like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind did.

This film was brilliant in so many ways, and Clint Eastwood proves yet again that he doesn’t know how to make bad films. I am expecting this to be a contender for many awards this Oscar cycle. It’s been a great year! It is now the first time since 2004 that I will be saying this about a third film in one year – I give it an A!