The Changling is excactly the kind of movie I like to avoid, I am neither a fan of Angelina Jolie nor Clint Eastwood which is why I feel I have to review this film even though it's a few years old. The Changling demonstrates that Angelina Jolie, under the right direction, or perhaps in the right environment is in fact a great actress; she is compelling as a mother, Christine Collins, who has lost her son. Jolie plays a young mother who's young son disappears while she is at work. A few months later a boy is returned to her, only it is not her son. As she struggles to find out what actually happened to her son she is berated, ignored and eventually locked up in a mental institution by the LA police. The film has great performances all around and is shot beautifully.The feminist undercurrent and theme of corruption ont eh government and police force is present but never preachy. The revelation of what actually happened to Collins son is both shocking and horrifying, there is little violence shown, leaving it to our imaginations but somehow this makes it even more gruesome. However this is perhaps where the film falters. After the revelation The Changling begins to ramble on without making a clear statement, several times it seems that the film is about to end when another twist is thrown in. Perhaps though, this is not a fault of the film but a strength. Even after such a terrible event in someone's life, in this case Christine Collins, life would go on, as does the film. The ending of this film is neither happy nor sad, which is the only ending such a film could have. The Changling is a powerful movie that will stick uncomfortably with you, even after it is finished. If you, like I, have arrived to 2011 without seeing it, I recommend it, better late than never!
No comments:
Post a Comment