Directed by:
Clint EastwoodScreenplay:
J. Michael StraczynskiCinematography:
Tom SternComposer:
Clint EastwoodCast:
Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, Michael Kelly, Colm Feore, Jason Butler Harner, Amy Ryan, Geoff Pierson, Denis O'Hare, Frank Wood (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Inspired by actual events that occurred in 1920s-era Los Angeles, Clint Eastwood's The 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. The year was 1928, and the setting a working-class suburb of Los Angeles. As Christine (Angelina Jolie) said goodbye to her son, Walter, and departed for work, she never anticipated that this was the day her life would be forever changed. Upon returning home, Christine was distressed to discover that Walter was nowhere to be found. Over the course of the following months, the desperate mother would launch a search that would ultimately prove fruitless. Yet just when it seemed that all hope was lost, a nine-year-old boy claiming to be Christine's son seemed to appear out of thin air. Overcome with emotions and uncertain how to face the authorities or the press, Christine invites the child to stay in her home despite knowing without a doubt that he is not her son. As much as Christine would like to accept the fact that her son has been returned to her, she cannot accept the injustice being pushed upon her and continues to challenge the Prohibition-era Los Angeles police force at every turn. As a result, Christine is slandered by the powers that be, and painted as an unfit mother. In this town, a woman who challenges the system is putting her life on the line, and as the situation grows desperate, the only person willing to aid her in her search is benevolent local activist Reverend Briegleb (John Malkovich). (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (12)
A formally smooth drama with a strong premise, hurt a little but an overly sweeping and inconsistent script. There are chilling and breathtaking scenes followed by more protracted ones, which somewhat bothered, because they don’t carry on with what the previous scene set up. I’d compare it to a car waiting at a traffic light: as soon as it starts, it has to stop again, and again. Angelina delivers a solid, though not Oscar-worthy performance (see Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road). The very fitting music is also worth mentioning, in the last shot it builds a very strong background with similar results as in Gran Torino (you’ll know if you’ve seen it). Changeling is a very good film, but I can’t give it the highest rating because some of this year’s Oscar hopefuls have had a bigger effect on me.
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Clint Eastwood and the most firmly held formula. A story that could be retold in three sentences stretches over two hours, but with such fascinating talent it forces the viewer to immensely enjoy that time. Every emotion feels genuine, Angelina Jolie overcomes her acting limitations, and the period atmosphere attacks all of my senses. If the whole film hadn't been infused with a very credible, unpleasant, and unrelenting hint of inhumanity, it could have been even better.
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I appreciate how Clint's slow but focused direction manages to fully serve the story, telling it from the position of an unbiased observer while letting the viewer deal with the emotional whirlwind on their own. What I appreciate less is the fact that the last quarter is a bit of an appendix - a place that just is, but somehow the viewer can do without it, perhaps because the cards have been dealt long ago and nothing can surprise him anymore. Then there is Angelina, and although she’s great, she’s still and always just "Angelina™," which can't be hidden even by the elegant hat and the period hair and make-up. However, I do admit that the first two-thirds or so of the film hit me hard.
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A solid Straczynski drama with decent production design, and interesting direction, but also a strange performance by Angelina and a few hobbling a-historical issues. In summary, however, I can recommend Changeling, and perhaps thanks to it younger people will understand who Tom Mix and Claudette Colbert were.
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Clint truly has the golden touch. A brilliant drama that, even with its length, is over before you know it. Angelina acts like her life depended on it, and I think that together with Fox from Wanted, it's the best role of her entire career. Paradoxically, some of the strongest scenes are the ones without her. The events on the farm, both the digging scene and the memories of the other boy, were incredibly chilling.
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