The Changeling Review

Clint Eastwood is a really good director and this is a really good film. Riveting performance by Angelina Jolie and supporting cast makes it even better. I’m so glad oscar season is starting because the late summer/early fall is a train wreck. This film kept me interested the whole time, always wanting to see more. The story is about Christine Collins’ (Angelina Jolie) 8 year old son that goes missing only to have LAPD return the wrong child. Wanting to avoid embarrassment, the police strong arm Collins into taking the wrong boy. When she starts to resist and go public, they have her committed. Only John Malkovich’s character helps her, as he is fueled by a need to uncover the myriad of LAPD’s corruption. This is motivated by Malkovich being a preacher with a popular radio show that he uses to condemn the police at every turn. If this story wasn’t true I would have thought the writers were morons. This makes the story that much more compelling. The entire time I was thinking, “I can’t believe they did this to that woman.” It was brutal how Jolie’s character was dealt with. In an era where single mothers were treated like stray dogs, and LAPD was rampant with corruption, its no wonder this happened. Still hard to swallow and watch with 21st century eyes. Eastwood depiction of these events and the era are smooth like his music. Never beating you over the head with soapboxy sentiments. Just showing what happened and why, due to the social norms of the time. I always like what Clint Eastwood does. From the justice with a gun of my childhood, to his recent directorial endeavors. I even liked it when he was a cash fighter with a monkey sidekick. And I’m not talking about Sondra Locke. It’s all gravy when the High Planes Drifter comes to town. So go see “Changeling” and try not to PALM STRIKE all the great character actors when they come on the screen and bully Angelina Jolie.