Changeling (Clint Eastwood, 2008): USA

Reviewed by Oscar Krooni. Viewed at the Riviera Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA (Cinema Society).

When I sit down to watch a film directed by Clint Eastwood, I expect certain traits. I expect a dark story, both visually and in terms of the narrative itself. I base my expectations on what are, in my opinion, his best films as a director: True Crime (1999), Mystic River (2003), and Million Dollar Baby (2004). If you´re like me and liked those films, you will definitely not be disappointed by Eastwood´s latest film, Changeling.

Changeling is based on a true story about Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), a single mother who one day finds her son kidnapped. When she gets a call that her son has returned, she is filled with joy. The joy turns to confusion and frustration when she goes to meet the boy at the train station and sees that he isn´t her son. The LAPD, however, insists that the boy in fact is her son.  The story, which takes place in the late 1920s and early 1930s, then goes on to depict a corrupt police force and a single mother and her quest for her lost son.

As with Million Dollar Baby, Eastwood uses a strong and independent woman struggling in a masculine and almost misogynistic society. Christine is essentially the only important female character in the film. The only other women with lines are the nurses at the mental asylum and her co-workers, none of whom plays an essential part in the narrative.

At the moment of her child´s abduction, Christine is at work, covering for someone else. Although it is not spelled out clearly, there is an underlying message that, as a woman, Christine works too hard; no one will cover for her and she is always at the disposal of others.

1920s Los Angeles does not allow room for a strong woman, and the LAPD is portrayed as misogynistic, using any means necessary to hold Christine back. This is when the story gets really displeasing but also the moment when Eastwood and Jolie are at their best.

This is perhaps one of Jolie’s strongest roles so far, and proves once again that she is a great actress (for those of you who weren´t already convinced). She captures the emotions of the character in way that isn’t too obvious; her acting is complemented by Eastwood´s delicate balance between compassion for Christine and the mystery of the lost child.

The camera does not linger on close-ups of a crying Christine. Instead, as in Mystic River, once her true feelings are expressed, they are all the more powerful. Silence and darkness play major roles in setting the tone for this dark and mysterious story.

I could write endlessly about how many wonderful elements the film includes. To name a few, the aforementioned lighting is spectacular, the depiction of the mental asylum takes me back to One Flew Over the Cuckoo´s Nest, the trial with the top-notch lawyer arouses feelings of pride and justice that only great film trials can.

In conclusion, Changeling is one of the year´s best films and is a must-see. From what I´ve seen thus far, Changeling is a hot candidate for winning several Oscars.

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Published:
10.26.08 / 7pm
Category:
Cinema Society, Films