Changeling

"Changeling" : It is typically described as being the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other legendary creature that has been secretly left in the place of a human child.

Why, oh why, did I wait so long to watch this film? I know why. It is 2 hours and 22 minutes long and although I don't mind Angelina Jolie, but she is no where near the top of my "must" list. Someone that is on the top of my "must" is Clint Eastwood who produced and directed this fine film and it's fine actors. All I knew of it was that Christine Collins' (Jolie) son was missing and the LAPD found him, but she attested that the boy returned to her was not her son at all. Intriguing yes, but two and half hours worth concerned me. The film begins around March 10, 1928 which is the day that Christine Collins comes home from work and her 9 year old son, Walter is no where to be found. She files her reports, but not much comes from it. Then one day about 5 months later the Captain of the LAPD arrives at her place of work to inform her that Walter has been found and is on a train right now headed home. Ecstatic, she leaves work to go to the train station where she is greeted by dozens of reporters ready to get the reunion story. When She and Captain JJ Jones (Burn Notice's Jeffrey Donovan) see the boy, Christine is left aghast. This is not my son, she claims. Capt. Jones thinks that she just may not recognize him because of the stress level or the 5 month absence. Either way she does not want this child. He needs to save face, so he gets her to agree to take the pictures, take the boy home for a trial run, and let it work itself out. This is a time when Cops actually had the respect of the people. The LAPD could not be wrong. They were held on such a pedestal, that if they were wrong they weren't going to admit it. The were also under much scrutiny for being a corrupt organization not worth a plug nickel. I don't know what a "Plug nickel" is, but I'm guessing it ain't worth a whole lot. It was a great era for the police. They regarded almost as celebrities, much like the film LA Confidential, they had to keep everyone happy at any cost. When Christine begins to confirm her beliefs about this boy, no one will listen. They hear what she is saying, but they don't care for any of it. She is constantly accusing the LAPD for not doing they job, and covering up the case. Then she makes a huge mistake. She is counselled by Reverend Gustav Briegleb (Malkovich), who has been preaching against the department every week on his personal radio show, to make a report to the papers. At this point she is making more trouble than she is worth, so the tables get turned on her. She is asked to come to the station where she is asked again if he is her son. No, she says again, and then she is placed in a psycho mental hospital for being detached and a liar who doesn't want to take care of her son any longer. At this hospital not much is different. They will only release her if she signs a document stating he is her son. What a strange era. This turns out to be the biggest mistake the Department could make. This puts the good Reverend into over drive on his mission to bring the entire LAPD to justice. At this point the film goes from dramatic thriller to courtroom drama. I will not disclose why she is released from the psycho ward because this is the turn in the story that I do not want to spoil for anyone. This movie is absolutely brilliant, and I was upset I did not watch it sooner. It's just another notch on Eastwood's belt as the supreme film maker. I would also like to add that I do believe this was the best I have ever seen Jolie act. She is marvelous and it should be appreciated by everyone when they watch it. It was also hard for me to see "Michael Westin" be a prick for 2 hours. He is so likable and nice on Burn Notice. He also did a fantastic job as the do no wrong Police Captain JJ Jones. I also don't remember hearing that this was based on a true story. True crime really gets my attention faster than almost anything.

NBM rates Changeling - Phenomenal