Changeling – a quest for thruth

Angelina Jolie in the "Changeling"

Since its venerable "Mystic River" in 2003, Clint Eastwood is part of U.S. filmmakers the most important of the decade. He proves it again with "Changeling", a more minor work that offers the chance to Angelina Jolie to put us in full view of her talent (not always well orchestrated in the past). A true story that will make you quickly respond.

Changeling – movie review

In 1928 in Los Angeles, the existence of Christine (Jolie) is on the verge of toppling. Her son has just disappeared without trace. Four months passed and the police eventually find him. But at the reunion, the mother quickly despairs: the person who stands before her is not her offspring. To avoid a terrible scandal, the police force her to take the toddler and after multiple refusals they decide to intern her! However, there are good Samaritans out there that can help her, including an activist Reverend (John Malkovich) who knows how to use his loud mouth.

Clint Eastwood has his own style, more similar to Frank Capra’s than Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. His films are always very academic, with a classic staging where the personality of the author is not always apparent. This technical refusal leaves him looking like a master of his medium, with this beautiful musical score (his!); that falls in the right place to convey emotion without too much stress. On this angle, surprises and risks are rare, which is not necessarily a bad thing (the example of the excellent "Atonement" is conclusive).

He draws his story in two ways that continue to intersect. First there is this personal quest of a mother in search of her own flesh. Angelina Jolie, still fresh from her memorable contribution to more than hectic "A Mighty Heart", gives us another intense performance. Her play is not too exagerated and despite her mix of white teeth and always abundant makeup, she generally acts very well, at a laureate level at least. Her character is so strong that it often overshadows the others, not always well developed and sometimes even Manicheans. In secondary roles, John Malkovich makes us smile, Jeffrey Donovan abuses of grin, Colm Feore plays a villain with good intentions and Amy Ryan surprised us by her intensity.

These rifts and confrontations serve causes that transcend the private sphere to bear on the public stratum. The role of the police is taken for a walk with its image. Like this stifling of difference and an alternate reality, muzzled as these women who are internment for reasons beyond comprehension. A few causes that the former favorite actor of Sergio Leone operates in details. And they are not the only ones! Why not make fun of this judicial system, often deficient, to titillate the birth of cynicism of dealing with authorities and even to criticize the death penalty as an instrument of vengeance? Multiple fronds from a filmmaker who has nothing to lose without necessarily mixing well the venom.

"Changeling" does not have the classic power as "Letters From Iwo Jima," "Mystic River" and "Unforgiven". The story shows some lengthy moments, the pace is not always supported and characters could be better developed. But the time period is perfectly recreated, showing us a wonderful Angelina Jolie who gained one of her best career character acting. Her dismay is palpable and it is well rendered in a very good movie.

Like usual (well nearly) the movie trailer: