Review of Changeling (2008) by Danny S — 13 Oct 2010

I am a sucker for movies based on actual events. This one was pretty hard to believe, but after reading up on it ... it is true. This actually happened. Amazing.

Set in the late 1920s, Angelina Jolie plays a single mother who is forced to leave her son at home alone when she is called in to work. She doesn't want to, but is struggling to make ends meet and can't pass up the hours. She returns to find that her son has been abducted. The corrupt L.A. Police Department start an extensive search for the boy and eventually find him. When they set up a meeting with the mother and boy with the press looking on, it turns out that it is not actually her son. The LAPD proclaim that it is and convince her to take the boy home. To cover up their blunder, the LAPD try as hard as they can to discredit the mother, even going as far as throwing her into an institution.

The movie is depressing at times, but powerful. Watching Jolie take the boy home even though she knows it is not her son was painful. Also, keep in mind that this was 1928 and women weren't taken very seriously yet. Her battle against the LAPD is an uphill one, to say the least.

It is slow at times, but you stay interested since you simply have to know what is going on. The scenery and wardrobes are well done. Unlike a lot of movies set in the era, this one actually makes you feel like it is the late 20s.

What really makes the movie is Jolie. I like her well enough as an actress, but I rarely think of her as a serious actress. Aside from "Girl, Interrupted", I haven't seen much from her in that regard. I was completely shocked at her performance in this one and completely understand why she got a Best Actress nomination.

10 Scale Rating: 8.0 ...