Changeling - Released 24/10/2008

A suspense filled thriller that will make you cry, clap, and close your eyes to depict the moment. A beautifully crafted Clint Eastwood film-making production, written by J. Michael Straczynski, with a whopping $55 million budget production movie blockbuster starring an Oscar-assured contender, Angelina Jolie.

An emotionally powerful and brilliant gripping true story-inspired drama that begins small with the disappearance of a young boy, only to gradually fan out to become a comprehensive critique of the entire power structure of Los Angeles, circa 1928. Changeling opens our hearts to the excruciating anguish of a loving mother in perseverance pursuit of her lost son who fought against a fraudulent system to do what is right while continue being mistreated by men in positions of power and authority. It explores the disempowerment of women, corruption in political hierarchies and violent acts.

We can read the pain in her eyes, the determination and drive, and the disturbing reality of real-life psychopathic criminal injustice. I suppose being a recently new mother herself, she manages to add that motherly instinct and passion towards her character’s real fear and feeling of losing a child. Jolie, flawlessly and successfully anchored a powerful performance with the rest of an amazing cast that brings to life emotions such as madness, anger, pain, sorrow, and the disbelief of such capable terrible actions by human. The situation her character goes through is so surreal and the film captures it perfectly. John Malkovich as always impressive performed a more serious, suspenseful and intensified level that carried a heightened sense of depth.

Stunning cinematography, wonderful Eastwood-esque self composed jazz and bebop influenced musical tones, a masterpiece performance that will keep you emotionally drawn into the story.

The overall experience is more exhilarating than saddening. There were some inconsistencies at times when the movie seemed to be all over place. Sometimes it was a crime mystery, sometimes a drama, and sometimes it tried too hard to be both. Despite that, Eastwood somehow keeps Changeling from dramatically falling apart.

A heart-felt moving and inspiring movie which lacks complexity that will be appreciated by mainstream viewers and Oscar voters. National Board of Review of Motion pictures named Changeling as one of the ten best films in 2008 topping worldwide gross standing at $66.7 million.

A 4/5 star rating for the first-class storyline and acting.