Changeling (15)

Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich and Jeffrey Donovan 

My film studies teacher says that women can't open films. What rubbish.

Based on the true story of Christine Collins and her fight against the LA Police Department, and the agony it brought with it, Changeling is set to take the Oscars by storm and solidify Angelina Jolie's place amongst respected actresses. She carries beautifully a role that she was initially afraid to take on, using raw emotion and empathy to retell the story of a magnificent woman.

It's 1928, and Christine Collins (Jolie) is living happily in a Los Angeles suburb with her 9 year-old son Walter. But one day, on returning from work, she finds that he has disappeared...

After months of searching for Christine's son, the LA Police Department present the distraught woman with a boy they have found and who matches the physical description of her son. Forced to look after the boy despite protesting that he isn't Walter, Christine is made out to be delusional and it appears that the child has been brainwashed to say that she is his mother. Presbyterian Minister Gustav Briegleb (Malkovich) seems to be the only person who will believe Christine. Meanwhile, Chief Police Investigator J.J Jones (Donovan) continues to insist that Collins is crazy and that of course the boy they have found her is Walter- why wouldn't he be?

Annoyed that she has been landed with a replacement child who she is told "has changed a lot over the months he has been away", and angry that the police have stopped searching for Walter, Christine seeks Briegleb's help. She chooses to make a public announcement condemning the actions of the LAPD... but this doesn't go down very well.

Embarassed that their failure has been brought to the public attention, the LAPD take drastic measures to ensure that Christine is silenced. Meanwhile, we discover the sick and disturbing truth about what REALLY happened to her son Walter.

Not for the faint-hearted who would be better off watching a happy, mindless, innocent film, Changeling is one of the darkest and most disturbing thrillers I have seen for a long time. Not the cheeriest of films to go see for your birthday, Changeling is a thought-provoking and beautiful piece of film. The story of Christine Collins is tragic and unbelieavable and will leave some of you in tears by the end. Eastwood has created a masterpiece with stunning cinematography and amazing screenwriting, all brought together by a spectacular performance by Angelina Jolie, which really ought to win her and Oscar next year.

If you want to see a decent, proper film, go see this. You won't regret it, although be aware that there are some distressing scenes.