Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Changeling.

Holy cow. This was NOT what I expected. Luckily it was still a good movie but about half-way through its like "hey whoaaa what are we watching now?"

First Jolie dazzles, as always, as the distraught mother of a missing child. Her mix of vulnerability and edge is unmatched by anyone else in the business now. This truth inspired portrait was no exception. Her screams and her cries put you on the edge of discomfort because it just feels so real that is rattles you. With any other leading lady the twists and rough subject matter of this film would have been completely lost but she is completely the anchor.

Again Malkovich pops up as a nice touch as the one public persona on Christine Collin's side. Plus if you like names, like I do, they you can appreciate that he has such a dignified name like Gustav. Its a shame he isn't more present in the piece because he was another strong holding point. On a more personal note I had a total issue with Ms. Collin's never thanking him for all of his help in the piece. I mean he pretty much saves her and helps her through and like not one thank you. That just still irks me about the story especially if its based on a true story. . .did she really never thank him?!?!

All of that being said. . .lets talk about the actual content of this piece. If you think this is merely a kidnapping period drama, oh are you sorely mistaken. I hate to be too much of a scene spoiler here but this drama runs the gauntlet of disturbing images you will see or be left to imagine. Now again since there is fact behind much of this that is what makes the major points so difficult to swallow. The fault in the film is in Eastwood's direction. As much as I love good ole' Clint and respect his illustrious career in cinema I have to say I was a little disappointed with the layout of this piece. Certainly he got his points across but I didn't feel that it was always in an artistic way. This left the film in a strange limbo, where it was more artful than a straight docu-drama but less fluid than an artistic interpretation. At times I felt he showed us much too much and yet at other moments he squandered an opportunity to develop his story further. It seems there was such rich content for the story, the setting, the corruption, kidnapping, psychology wards for women, murder, abuse of power. . .the list goes on. The execution of this content made the film feel over drawn and uneven in many sections.

Still overall it was a stellar selection but not necessarily for the faint of heart. Or the optimists on human history and behavior. Excellent acting, excellent base for the script, some faulty executive execution but not enough to make it unenjoyable. More than worth the watch.

<3


Post Script. Kudos to Amy Ryan. She is just such a clever chameleon actress, one of the best women in that capacity currently working. Another brief but nice surprise in the middle.