Film Review: Changeling

A review of the film Changeling, submitted in the 2nd year of my degree of Film, Photography and Video.

Changeling Review, by Ann-Marie Essex

United States, 2008
U.S. Release Date: 31^st October 2008
Running Length: 141 minutes
MPAA Classification: R (some violent and disturbing content, and language)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Cast: Angelina Jolie (Christine Collins), Gattlin Griffith (Walter Collins), Michael Kelly (Detective Lester Ybarra), John Malkovich (Rev. Gustav Briegleb), Colm Feore (Chief James E. Davis), Devon Conti (Arthur Hutchins), Jeffery Donovan (Captain J.J. Jones),  Jason Butler Harner (Gordon Northcott), Amy Ryan (Carol Dexter), Eddie Alderson (Sanford Clark)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Producers: Clint Eastwood, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Robert Lorenz, Tim Moore, Jim Whitaker
Screenplay: J. Michael Straczynski
Cinematography: Tom Stern
Music: Clint Eastwood
U.S. Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production: Imagine Entertainment, Malpaso Productions, Relativity Media

Changeling is the true life harrowing story of a woman’s desperate search for her son, battling against a corrupt police force. The story unfolds in Los Angeles in 1928 and costume, locations and props have been searched out in order to create a truly authentic piece, in this period drama mixed with a crime investigation with thriller like qualities. Clint Eastwood’s depiction of the true life story, uncovered by J. Michael Straczynski, is an emotional journey of a woman’s battle to be reunited with her son. Angelina Jolie (Salt, Lara Croft) offers an outstanding performance as Christine Collins throughout the series of heartbreaking events. This is far from Jolie’s typical roles of a heroic sex symbol, in modern Hollywood action films; instead she conveys a sense of grief, fear, desperation, sadness and determination that grips the audience.  Her flawless acting adds to the emotional turmoil that is displayed from the compelling story of a grief stricken mother, amongst Jolie’s incredible performance there is also beautifully acted scenes from John Malkovich (Burn After Reading, Beowulf), Jeffery Donovan (Come Early Morning, Hitch) and Michael Kelly (Dawn of the Dead, Tenderness), as well as the complete cast who give realistic performances that build emotion and show the story unfold.

The film begins in an idyllic family home with Christine (Jolie) and her son, Walter (Gattlin Griffith), where it is established it is a single parent and only child relationship which has a strong bond with Christine's maternal instinct. Christine leaves on an ordinary day, to her ordinary job as a phone operator and returns home to find her son missing, which follows with an extraordinary series of events. Contacts about the missing child are made, police are put on the case to find the boy, and Christine searches the neighbourhood, 5 months pass of waiting and sorrow and meanwhile we are shown a brief clip of a boy and man in a diner in Illinois, with this the police arrive with good news, the boy has been found. But this boy is not Christine Collins’ son. After Captain J.J Jones (Donovan) persuades Christine that her son could have changed after 5 months and she should take him home on a ‘trial’ period, she reluctantly agrees and even poses for the press to give the police force a positive media response. Her declaration that this is not her son continues and reaches the Revenant Gustav Briegleb (Malkovinch) who also runs a radio station, he comments on the police force about the investigation that ‘its status as the most violent, corrupt and incompetent police force this side of the rocky mountains’. Whilst it is clear that Christine is not going to accept this boy as her child and refuses to give up insisting on continuing the search, the police force do everything in their power to quiet her, in case of the problem being widely exposed and worse of all, believed, and therefore gaining negative media attention and the police force being shamed by a child abduction case. To reinforce the idea that the police force are correct a doctor is sent over to the home, the boys sudden shortened height is explained that trauma can affect growth and his circumcision simply because his abductor thought it was more hygienic. But the ‘new’ Walter (Devon Conti) has changed in more ways and Christine along with Rev. Gustav support show this, with school teachers and dentists reinforcing that in no way could this boy be Walter.

The film takes a much more sinister twist, Christine’s fight for her son is not what the police want in the public eye, but as she says to Revenant Gustav ‘I’m not on a mission, I just want my son home’. Yet her determination to fight the authority backfires on her, she is sectioned to a psychiatric ward where she is slandered as delusional and an unfit mother who does not want to take on board her own responsibilities. Scenes are shocking and show distressed women within their ‘cells’ the patients are routinely medically checked and taken away for electric shock treatment if their behaviour becomes ‘uncontrollable’. It is reinforced again that the police force are dishonest and irresponsible when we learn that the women in the hospital are only there because they refused to believe the police or questioned them and criticised them, telling the truth gets people into trouble with the police. And those who challenge the system don’t get the chance to tell their story. These scenes are detailed with long shots that create tension and the sinister idea of the police force, the clinical background of white and blues adds to the cold atmosphere in which the women have been forced into. Jolie has acted within the ‘mental institute’ setting before in the award winning film ‘Girl, interrupted’ released in 1999 and directed by James Mangold, Jolie gives a striking, moving and intriguing performance to the character of Lisa, perhaps  this is what gives her character in Changeling such realistic characteristics.

In an almost sub-plot, Detective Lester Ybarra, (Kelly), is put on a case involving a young boy living illegally on isolated farmland with his cousin. The ranch setting has elements of fear and a nervous atmosphere is formed, with axes and sharp weapons littering the location, giving a suspicious glance of what is occurring. It is not until this investigation is looked at deeper that the true horrors and violent crimes are linked to Christine Collins own problems. With Gordon Northcott (Jason Butler Harner) being key to these scenes, with distressing and shocking images and in some instances to graphic to be watchable. With a sceptical public and Rev. Gustav, alongside a lawyer, supporting Christine she is released from the hospital and takes the police force to court, exposing the truth and horrors of what she went through. With the refusal to surrender Christine continues to have set backs, but she never gives up hope in finding her son.

This is an R rated movie, however it has some truly horrific scenes within it, the thriller element of the film really comes into play just after half way through the emotional drama, yet throughout Jolie’s performance of Christine Collins is distressing and powerful, and therefore children, and even many adults may become upset by the images and sounds unfolding. Perhaps this film is only so disturbing and upsetting because it is based on real facts and events. In contrast to the ‘horrific’ scenes, the film is beautifully displayed; the set up on 1928 Los Angeles is incredible within itself. Having the cinematographer Tom Stern, who has worked on a total of 22 titles, many of these with Clint Eastwood, adds an exceptional touch the film, with the look of the film being highly important, as we jump through all of our emotions. Set, prop and costume departments have also done a fantastic job on this film, special effect teams and art departments have also helped fill in the gaps to create the 1920s and 1930s.Filming took place in San Dimas, San Bernadino, Pasadena and Lancaster, where locations hadn’t developed as much as Los Angeles. Deborah Hopper, the costume designer, adds huge attention to detail, with colour choice, fabrics and accessories. The choice of costume helps develop the character of Christine Collins, the vulnerable and delicate personality hiding behind a hat, to the strong feminine figure in red lipstick and a fur coat. The overall design team is a huge contributor to the success of this film.

If you are looking for a family film with a typical fairytale ending, this film is not for you, yet there is always hope. Nevertheless the provocative drama will continue to provoke emotions and surprise you again and again with its twists in the story and shocking truths about the LAPD in the 1920s and 1930s. We are left thinking of whom we should feel sympathy for and who really is a hero, this film conflicts with many traditional Hollywood films, yet this is because of the nature of the plot and what developed in reality. The film does not offer us complete resolution and leaves questions unanswered, instead it leaves its audience thinking, much the same as what happened in reality of this police case. However, although this film is based on a ‘true story’, it still allows for creativity, exaggeration and new ideas to evolve in order for the film to be entertaining, like any other Hollywood film. This is a completely unforgettable film, triggering every sense of emotion, with the story of a mother’s worse fear developing straight in front of her.