Today’s quick review: Changeling. In Los Angeles in 1928, Christine Collins (Angelina Joline) comes home from work one day to find that her son Walter has vanisheed without a trace. After months of searching, Captain J.J. Jones (Jeffrey Donovan) of the LAPD returns another boy to her, insisting he’s Walter, and declares the case closed. To get her real son back, Christine must take on a corrupt police force determined to avoid a scandal at all costs.
Changeling is a crime drama and mystery from director Clint Eastwood. Based on the true story of Christine Collins and her search for her missing son, Changeling addresses the fear, uncertainty, and hope of a missing child case, as well as the Kafkaesque danger of institutional corruption. The story won’t appeal to everybody, focused as it is on uncomfortable, real-world drama. But in terms of overall quality, Changeling has everything it needs.
Changeling focuses on two intertwining conflicts: Christine’s search for her missing son, and her fight with the LAPD after they return an impostor to her instead. Christine’s situation puts her at an extreme disadvantage. The Department is willing to stonewall her, threaten her, and trash her reputation to make the incident go away. Her chief ally in her fight is Reverend Briegleb (John Malkovich), a vocal critic of the LAPD.
Changeling backs its dramatic story with strong craftsmanship all around. Angelina Jolie delivers the performance that ties the film together, walking a thin line between despair and determination. The plot moves forward thanks to a balanced combination of lucky breaks, outside help, and Christine’s own persistence. The tone consists of a similar blend of helplessness and thin hope. Solid writing and direction complete the package.
Still, what Changeling has to offer won’t suit everyone. The viewer has to invest in Christine’s struggles for the drama to be effective, and in spite of the film’s best efforts, Christine and her missing boy simply won’t hold everyone’s attention. The plot also skews more passive than other crime dramas. There’s no single problem for Christine to solve, just a messy, hostile situation whose outcome is largely out of her hands.
Watch Changeling when you’re in the mood for a well-crafted drama with the ring of authenticity. Changeling does a skillful job of conveying its themes and capturing the drama of a police cover-up. Steer clear if you dislike true stories or prefer mysteries with a more active protagonist. For another missing child case, try Gone Baby Gone. For an Alfred Hitchcock movie with a similar sense of helplessness, try The Lady Vanishes.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for an open-ended mystery and an effective sense of helplessness; your score will vary.