Movie Review: ‘Changeling’ will change you
“Changeling”, the new picture directed by Clint Eastwood, is one of the most powerful movies I have seen. It is on one hand emotionally draining, and on the other, uplifting. It rips hope away, just to have it restored once again bigger and brighter than it was before. This movie will make you cringe, cry, angry and inspired.
The time is 1928. Angelina Jolie (“Wanted”) stars as Christine Collins, a single mother trying to work and take care of her kid at the same time. After a late day at work she comes home to find that her 9-year old son Walter is missing. The police are less than willing to take on Christine’s case, saying that she has to wait 24 hours to report her missing child, “It’s protocol.”
Soon a boy is returned to Christine, but not the right one. He’s three inches shorter, different dental X-rays, and even a completely different demeanor. The cops insist that it is Walter, and act agitated whenever Christine shows up protesting that the boy is not hers.
Police Captain Jones (Jeffery Donovan “Burn Notice”) continues to belittle Christine. Telling her she’s not in the right state of mind that she’s trying to get out of her responsibilities as a mother. Christine’s case is taken up by Rev. Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich “Beowulf”). Rev. Gustav has made it his mission to bring to light the corruption that is happening within the LAPD.
While the movie starts out being about Christine trying to find her son by any means possible it turns into something more. It is a true story of how the plight of one woman turned a city and its government around. It’s a story of how an individual can make a difference. An individual is powerful enough to stand up to anyone.
For those of you that don’t know the story behind the movie be prepared for the movie to shift gears dramatically. There is an unforgettable scene involving a young boy and a police detective in an interrogation room that will be forever burned into my memory. As the young boy recounts the things he’s had to do, it’s hard to keep watching but you can’t turn away. It’s mesmerizing and sickening.
Clint Eastwood is truly one of the great directors of our time. “Million Dollar Baby” was a perfect example of what Eastwood can do with a character driven drama. “Changeling” is every bit as emotionally draining as “Million Dollar Baby” was. Eastwood is at the top of his game. There are no overly dramatic moments in “Changeling” where you can say “Well, I think they took a few liberties with the true story there.” There is just good solid storytelling.
Jolie is amazingly good as Christine. It’s easy to forget how good of an actress she really is because of all the mindless action movies she’s done. But, she’s superb here.
This movie will break your heart. It will anger you. It will empower you. It will make you stand up and cheer. This is what film is all about. Telling thoughtful, powerful stories that make people think. Stories that will make people look at their own lives, and the world around them, and try and find ways to make things better. It will make people take stock of their families and friends and how those relationships can be gone in an instant, so cherish what you have today.
You will definitely need a hug after this movie.
Grade: A