Changeling – A Mother’s Fight For Justice

cocobytes Review
"Changeling" is a heavy, sombre story with a lot of shade and not so much light within its narrative.

Continuing his series of darkly themed movies, Clint Eastwood, 78, aptly directs this “true story” of single mother, Christine Collins, played by Angelina Jolie who in 1928 Los Angeles, returns home from work to find her young son, Walter, is missing and attempts to report this to the police.

After an initial feeble attempt in getting involved, the LAPD find themselves, months later, under pressure to solve the case. They return a boy to Christine and arrange for the media to capture the reunion.

However, Christine quickly realises he is not her son and fights to find justice and truth within the police force, whilst relentlessly continuing the search for her son. She is supported on her pursuit by Presbyterian minister, Reverend Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich), who himself is on a campaign to expose corrupt cops.

Christine’s dogged battle with the police ultimately sees her thrown into a mental hospital, where she finds other woman in similar situations for speaking out. She struggles to clear her name and resume the gritty search for her son.

Angelina Jolie, has a lot on her plate playing Christine Collins and is required to produce a gamut of emotions from loss, grief, fear, anger, frustration as well as moments of hope. It’s a lot to ask and at times Jolie is robotic and appears to lack the substance to make us empathise with her character.

We know we are supposed to feel emotion for her but it’s hard when her extraordinary face and red, luscious lips are continually displayed on the screen at every given opportunity, distracting us from the storyline and somehow giving the feeling that despite her grief, Christine was always able to apply Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick.

The story at times is difficult to watch due to the subject matter and not necessarily aided by overacting on the part of some of the main actors however, scene stealer, Amy Ryan as the prostitute imprisoned in the mental hospital, gives another convincing performance.

"Changeling" as a whole has its flaws but the compelling story leaves the viewer with the feeling that the pursuit and determination to discover the truth is the only way we can truly live our lives with integrity.