Changeling

A hard watch for any parent

Lover: Taken from IMDB
“Changeling is the new film from director Clint Eastwood. It is based on a true story that takes place in 1928 L.A.The story is about a woman who returns home one day to find her son missing. Then a few months later the police return a child to her, but it isn't her son. The woman keeps on telling everyone that this child isn't her son, but the police keep on claiming that it is her son and are calling the woman crazy.The film is a wonderful study about police corruption in L.A. in the late 1920s. The film is emotionally gripping, and at times disturbing.The film was superbly directed by Clint Eastwood, who was working from a terrific script by J. Michael Straczynski. Not only that, but Eastwood also wrote the film's score, which was very good as well. Of course the acting is what truly stole the show for me. Angelina Jolie delivers an Oscar worthy performance as the mother of the missing child, but what truly surprised me was how good these children in the cast were. All of the child actors were very well cast and all delivered amazing performances.As a whole Eastwood's Changeling is one of the best films of the year, and should be up for some big-time Oscars at year's end.A perfect 10 out of 10!”

crazy to think this was a true story and I know nothing about the era so not sure how “accurate” it is. I also had no idea Clint did the music, is the man limitless!!

Hater: Taken from IMDB
”This movie is utterly craptastic in every aspect. From the very beginning to the very end it's a never ending plea for Oscar nominations, although not an unusual approach for a movie, this time Clint Eastwood took it too far. It's too obvious that the people behind and in front of the camera thinks too much about the "oscar" scenes than the outcome of the movie as a whole. Angelina Jolie does an average appearance in this role, although everyone knows that the role would be perfect for Nicole Kidman. Angelina may be pretty, but her "fake" look does not fit the 1930's scenario and her acting is not good enough. Several times during the movie a single line is repeated over and over to the point where it becomes annoying, and it seems to me that the writers just simply where out of good ideas. Sorry Clint, you fail. The movie might be based more or less on a true story, this is a farse of uninspired cliché.I know there will be loads of people disagreeing with me on this one, because if you got names like Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie on the cover you can sell people crap and make them eat it. Watch the movie twice and I'm sure you see my points.”

Well now usually my favourite part of these reviews is to comment on the hater’s opinion. This is no exception, firstly “craptastic”! So what if a film is “Oscar baiting” firstly your never going to know for certain what the filmmakers were thinking and even if they were should all filmmakers try and make award winning movies? Angelina Jolie in my humble opinion was fantastic in this, possibly my favourite of all her performances. The pain and anguish of losing a child is utterly convincing and heart breaking! Not hard for someone who is clearly a loving mother in reality. The “single line” I think the reviewer is referring to is “He’s not my son!” Well to be honest how many other ways can you say it? It’s an overly harsh review for a film that is a pleasure to watch.

What I thought:
Changeling will be a challenging film to watch for any parent, it issues will hit hard. Losing a child is one of the hardest things that any parent can go through and it’s played out brilliantly in this! As a father myself I could relate to the mothers pain and conviction when looking for her son.

The production is sublime but what do you expect from ol Clint, trams grind there way through an incredibly authentic 20’s LA. It’s a gritty drama about the loss of a child and deals with it in a very real way, without sugar coating the theme. Of course that may be a bit to dark for some viewers but like the man said, “A true story”.