Changeling
Angelina Jolie is back to her best. And when I say best, I mean the rare great role she picks for every three junk films she does - Wanted, Alexander, and Sky Captain, to name but a few.
That said, Changeling has the hallmarks of a great vintage wine from the get go. It's based on a true, heart-rending story, it's directed by Clint Eastwood, produced by Ron Howard and stars Jolie giving a stellar performance similar to the gem she gave in the under-appreciated A Mighty Heart. I’d also like to throw in a mention to John Malkovich who plays a 'rise to your feet'-sermon-giving-Reverend, and plays it so well you wish you had someone like him in your corner if you ever decided to take on the world…or in this case the LAPD.
It’s 1928 and Christine Collins (Jolie), a working, middle-class single mother, leaves her son at home alone only to return from work to find him gone. From Christine’s initial call to the police to report her missing son, you begin to realize this will be torture for her and immediately sympathise with the character. After weeks of anguish with Christine constantly following up with agencies and investigators, the LAPD - eager to seize their first positive photo opportunity - present Christine with a boy claiming to be her son. It just so happens this boy is now shorter, has differing eye colour and different dental records from the son she lost weeks ago. But after being coerced by the police to keep the boy on a 'trial basis' for a few weeks, Christine finally decides enough is enough and stands up and fights back to gain the truth about what happened to her son.
Eastwood’s signature style is evident here, leading you down the murky path. He exposes the unimaginable abuse of power a corrupt police department can exercise, the liberties they think they can take, and the sacrifices one must make to stir the emotions and raise the strength of those around them to correct what is wrong with society. This film certainly won’t be everyone’s favorite of the year, partly because of the issues it covers and partly because of its genre, but rest assured spending two hours here is worth it to see a likely Oscar contender for best film, Actress and Director.
Rarely does a film get the top three, but this is one that does, and you’ll walk out of the cinema with many more reasons why you enjoyed this film than why you didn’t. In fact if you have a heart you won’t have any for the latter at all.
It’s 1928 and Christine Collins (Jolie), a working, middle-class single mother, leaves her son at home alone only to return from work to find him gone. From Christine’s initial call to the police to report her missing son, you begin to realize this will be torture for her and immediately sympathise with the character. After weeks of anguish with Christine constantly following up with agencies and investigators, the LAPD - eager to seize their first positive photo opportunity - present Christine with a boy claiming to be her son. It just so happens this boy is now shorter, has differing eye colour and different dental records from the son she lost weeks ago. But after being coerced by the police to keep the boy on a 'trial basis' for a few weeks, Christine finally decides enough is enough and stands up and fights back to gain the truth about what happened to her son.
Eastwood’s signature style is evident here, leading you down the murky path. He exposes the unimaginable abuse of power a corrupt police department can exercise, the liberties they think they can take, and the sacrifices one must make to stir the emotions and raise the strength of those around them to correct what is wrong with society. This film certainly won’t be everyone’s favorite of the year, partly because of the issues it covers and partly because of its genre, but rest assured spending two hours here is worth it to see a likely Oscar contender for best film, Actress and Director.
Rarely does a film get the top three, but this is one that does, and you’ll walk out of the cinema with many more reasons why you enjoyed this film than why you didn’t. In fact if you have a heart you won’t have any for the latter at all.
Here Is The Writer : Omer Bhatti
Omer Bhatti, Head Sales Trader of WorldSpreads and markets commentator during the week, is always happy to go to a cushy cinema and devour films on the weekend. No film is ruled out, be it French film noir, Hollywood CGI action, or Japanese Manga. Look to Omer for input on where to go and what to see, whether it’s for a first date, family outing, Sunday recovery session, or guy's - or girl's - night out. (Just don't make him watch Sex & the City again.)
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