Rating of
3/4
A great Eastwood film, but no masterpiece
Movies - wrote on 11/30/08
Director Clint Eastwood is one of those rare cases where his directorial career grandly surpasses his acting career. Films like Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, and Letters From Iwo Jima all have some sort of Oscar or was nominated for one. Another unique observation regarding Mr. Eastwood's career centers around the fact that he has put out better films as he grows older. In 2000 he put out Space Cowboys and in 2002 he released Bloodwork, both clothed in mediocrity. Most of the films I mentioned before started to surface in 2003, with Mystic River being the first of his long string of great films. I'll let you know right away that Changeling is second tier to the five films I mentioned as being Eastwood's best. However, it's not stuck in mediocrity like Space Cowboys and rises to the occasion when it has to, showcasing an epic scope on police corruption during the 20's and 30's in the backdrop of Los Angeles.
Angelina Jolie plays Christine Collins, a good, well-mannered mother who seems to love her child. However, the world around her comes crashing down when she discovers that her child is missing. The LAPD and Collins herself perform a wide search for the boy and soon enough, he is found. Christine's world again comes crashing down when she identifies the boy not to be her son Walter. However, the LAPD insists that this is the boy and Collins is sort of forced into bringing this child home with her. After discovering certain physical differences between the new found boy and her son, Collins begins to make her opinion public. Once she does this, Collins is unjustly arrested and thrown into a psych ward where she won't be able to cause anymore problems concerning the LAPD's competency.
Changeling, based on a true story, tackles a lot of issues within it's two hour and twenty or so minute time frame. Police corruption, serial killers, the status of women, insane asylums, the court system, and how putting too much faith into the system can ultimately bring you down are explored throughout the film. The first act focuses on the search for her child, and how Collins believes it is not her son. At first it's very effective but then starts to become tired and repetitive as the films progresses. The blame can be heavily put on screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski for some eye rolling dialogue at times, and creating too much repetition concerning Jolie and her shouting "That's not my son!" every fifty first of a second of the film. I know it's Changeling's main focal point but it becomes monotonous and old very quickly. However, Jolie puts on a performance that rightfully deserves the Oscar buzz as she doesn't over act like Sean Penn in Mystic River when tragedy strikes, but displays a natural performance as a mother who's only simply trying to find her son.
Moreover, the second act of Changeling shifts its gears towards the psych-ward and how Collins is unjustifiably thrown in there. Nobody of power seems to believe her case, with the exception to Rev. Gustav Briegleb played to perfection by John Malkovich. The audience has really lost all hope for Collins, as she is hauntingly put into a catch-22. While in the ward she befriends Carol Dexter played by Amy Ryan, another women dragged into the asylum for unjustly reasons. Here we learn just how ruthless and cowardly the LAPD is during the Prohibition era of the roaring twenties. Her doctor soon enough gives her a terrifying decision to make. She can either sign an affidavit stating that the son police brought home to her is in fact her son and be let free, or not sign the form and remain contained in the insane asylum. Collins' brave heart and soul chooses the latter, and more unjustly acts follow suit.
I can not comment on the third act because it would be giving far too much away. However, I can say loudly and proudly that it's the best act of the film, pushing it out of the norm and into great movie territory. Supporting work from James Butler Harner as a strange and horrifying man who's just one of the many who lies and lies and lies to Collins' face throughout the film. Eddie Alderson puts on an impressive performance as Sanford Clark, the boy who aides Alderson in his wrong doings. Devon Conti makes his on screen debut as the child who claims to be Walter. It's harrowing to see this child mentally torment, and haunt Collins as she yells and screams at her "found boy" that he is not her child. Conti's character never gives into Collins, making me wonder what this kid is going to be like when he grows older.
Ultimately, Changeling is a great film, but you probably won't find it on my year end list in January. It's kept out of being one of Eastwood's top films mainly because of the lackluster script and the lack of development between Jolie and her real son Walter in the beginning reels of the film. Perhaps I'm being too hard on this film, and if I am I apologize. However, Changeling is a grand film, highlighting a great performance from Angelina Jolie and how putting too much trust into society can ultimately succumb to your undoing.
