Review of Changeling (2008) by Brian K — 13 Apr 2013

I am absolutely shocked that this could happen. The film is based on a true story, and for the most part stays accurate. I can't fathom the amount of corruption and utter disgust in which the LAPD handled this situation. I can't imagine how a simple filmmaker like Clint Eastwood, the producer and director of the film, can transport me into the world of the late 1920s so flawlessly. Clint Eastwood is also the composer of the film, by the way. What? Clint Eastwood can write music? Apparantly.

The story is so touching and so unbelievable. A single mother, Christine Collins(Angelina Jolie in a breathtaking performance), comes home from work one day to find her son missing. When she calls the police, they tell her to wait 24 hours to see if he comes back. When he still doesn't, she calls again. The police begin an investigation and manipulate a young boy to pretend to be Collins' son in order to make it seem as if the LAPD is getting something good accomplished. They live off of the press, and the returning of a lost boy would most certainly erase the corruption they've been excersizing. Christine claims that the boy is not her son, and the LAPD does everything in their power to try to convince the public that it is her son, they go so far as to throw her into an insane asylum.

It gets worse, but I'll leave it to the film to explain what happens next. This story is amazing and should be told. It is every bit relevant to us today to look back at the past and examine what we want for our future. Clint Eastwood is a master filmmaker and this one is no exception. The pacing and editing are tightly wound, and the narrative is close to perfection. The performances are also great, by the way. Angelina Jolie is fascinating in the leading spot. Not at one single point in the film did I ever think of her as Angelina Jolie. She is a total embodiement of the character, and she deserves an Oscar nod. Malkovich is also good, and a stand out performance comes from Jason Butler Harner as Gordon Northcott.

The film is conceived as a film from the late 20s mixed with the films of today. Modern day philosophy(in one particular scene, a woman has this to say about the LAPD: "Fuck them, and the horse the rode in on." When Christine tells her that that isn't proper language, the woman says, "There are times when that's exactly the right language." Later, Christine uses the same phrase.) combined with conventional filmmaking of old. Critics will undoubtedly be hard on the film for using conventional techniques, but is there really any other way to tell this story? If it had been the least bit stylized, it would have ruined the emotional dexterity and narrative integrity of the film.

I applaud the efforts of Eastwood to bring this story to life, and I hope to see the film again. If the Academy had any sort of a brain, they would nominate the film for Best Picture. However, since the Academy does not have any sort of a brain, the film will not be nominated. I could be wrong. There's a great moment in the film when Christine and her co-workers are placing bets over which film will win Best Picture. Every one else says 'Cleopatra'. Christine says, "Overrated. 'It Happened One Night' will win; Clark Gabele, Claudette Colbert, what more can I say?" 'It Happened One Night' ends up winning the prize. Let's hope this film follows suite.