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Changeling (2008)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Time Out rating

Average user rating

40 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Great directors have an ability to make any material their own and take risks where others would demur. That is not to say that the subject of 78-year-old Clint Eastwood’s latest – the moving and true story of a traumatised lone mother (Angelina Jolie) who, in late 1920s Los Angeles, insists that the son returned to her by police following his kidnap is not hers – doesn’t involve themes and elements close to the director’s heart. It very much does: not least those of struggle against repressive systems, intolerable situations or impossible odds, a re-appraisal of the depiction of women and others seen as ‘second-class’ and an unflinching approach to the complexity, ironies, rituals and political implications of crime and violence, punishment and revenge.

But having said that, ‘Changeling’ is, for an essentially populist work, unexpectedly audacious, advancing way beyond the call of duty in all its basic four elements. Firstly, as a period-reconstruction costumer, it is meticulous to the point of affectionate in its realisation of the lost world of 1928 LA, while never allowing such ‘colour’ to obscure or upstage the human drama. As a police investigative procedural, too, it mounts a sober, credible, yet searing critique of the famously corrupt political and law enforcement establishment of the day, led by Chief Davis (Colm Feore). And, as a variation on the campaigning/woman-in-jeopardy movie, it illicits Jolie’s finest performance to date, as the woman, Christine Collins, who faces her worst nightmare – the kidnap of her 9-year-old son, while a child killer is known to be at work.

Jolie’s task is to show each calibration of her maddening dilemma (at one point she is incarcerated in a mental institution), caught as she is between suspended grief, fear, isolation, anger and – most movingly – her maternal feelings towards the imposter (Devon Conti) in her care. But, lastly, it is the restrained clarity of Eastwood’s exposition throughout this roller-coaster ride that is most impressive. He shows the horrors in the same way he observes Christine’s courage, all the while careful only to allow his sympathies to register by means of the tense and empathetic emotional line he keeps at every stage of his heroine’s hellish experiences. It’s a tough movie but also rewarding and inspiring: something of a quiet triumph.

Author: Wally Hammond 2008-11-25 09:08:15

Time Out London Issue 1997, November 29 – December 3, 2008

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User reviews of this film

Sutton said...

Posted on Dec 01 2008 13:31 Although a good film, it does not warrant the reve reviews. An interesting story and distressing to see how corrupt and dangerous LAPD were in the 1920's. I'm not convinced by Ms Jolie's acting ability, nevertheless a film worth seeing.

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Sutu said...

Posted on Dec 01 2008 12:04 Powerful directing, Great performances not just from Jolie but superbly supported. Does not feel like 2 hours 20 mins at all - testament to how well this film was made. Great story of injustice and resilience.

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MovieLover said...

Posted on Dec 01 2008 10:06 I really think that it was one of the best movies i have ever seen.., Just Brilliant...

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iain said...

Posted on Dec 01 2008 00:00 This is an excellent film, gripping from start to finish. Angelina jolie plays the shockingly treated mother superbly -- I would say her best performance to date. Eastwood brings tremendous period detail to the film that is very nice to watch.. Don't hesitate to go and see this, brilliant!!

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usman khawaja said...

Posted on Nov 30 2008 18:14 EASTWOOD HATCHES A WOODEN WHIMPERING WEAKLING OF A WOMAN
Any speculations about the veracity of this contrived melodrama are of no avail as it is totally unconvincing from the first to last frame,
jolie acts like a scrawny model walking the catwalk as in a forties classic ,alas it is a c-grade tearjerker with contrived dialogue,shrieking whining motherhood and an actress who persistently wears more eye mascara and lip gloss then garbo did in her most ostentatious role ever.
But that can be forgiven if she was not playing a mother to a 10 year old while working as a telephone operator on roller blades in the era of depression with an extremely corrupt LAPD conspiring against the citizens and particularly against her .
the cliched kid is even worst as he looks more a villain then the LAPD and this becomes a petulant plot with pedestrian execution and pitiful direction .
we already know the cops in LA are more vicious then their sao paolo counterparts thanks to the famed roadside beating and mr.AYERS cop dramas so this was a very cliched contraption from the rather jaded eyes of clint eastwood which is surefire evidence of age catching up with this great maker .
some one has to win an oscar like every year so this might be a contender as american cinema celebrates its bleakest year in a century with a recession at heels but this dismal and maliciously overacted epic only is meant for the human hypothalamus rather than the cortex from the cursory curiosity of clint eastwood .
it is meant to be a passionate tear jerker but achieves the accolades of making the mother look like a mental cripple as a pure charade of costumes and female coquettry with jolie looking like a caricature of the great garbo .
usman khawaja

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Robert said...

Posted on Nov 30 2008 10:59 Madison, you're opinion on this film makes me think your brain is the size of a grapefruit. Please everyone, do not pay any attention to that pile of crap disguised as a user review. The Changeling was brilliant, no doubt about it. It was deeply moving throughout and Angelina's acting was superb as i knew it would be. This film is destined for awards. This film is a must see if you think it appeals to you. It'll leave you speechless.

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Dave Kirby said...

Posted on Nov 29 2008 22:36 Excellent film; thought provoking and attention grabbing. At the end lots of people just sat still.

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Madison said...

Posted on Nov 29 2008 11:06 uh, did you watch the same movie as me? slow, boring. angelina has the emotional range of a grapefruit. at no point did i believe that this woman was actually a mother with a missing child. And she has to have the most punchable face in cinema. he's not my son, he's not my son, he's not my son, he's not my son...SHUT UP!

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mockingbird said...

Posted on Nov 28 2008 17:52 This film is absolutely awesome.It is sad,disturbing,horrific but still inspirational to see the human spirit overcome such terrible adversities.Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich both deliver outstanding performances in this unforgetable story.

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gareth said...

Posted on Nov 28 2008 14:50 Great movie! !!!
Gereat director!!!

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