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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 1497
Released: February 17, 2009 |
| Our Price: $8.25 |
| Used Price: $2.64 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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| Features:
AC-3 Color Dolby Dubbed DVD Subtitled Widescreen NTSC | |
Editorial Review:
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 17-FEB-2009
Media Type: DVD
Description of Changeling:
Clint Eastwood’s mastery as a director, established over the past decade and a half with Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Letters from Iwo Jima, and others, continues with Changeling, a 2008 offering based on a shocking but all-too-true story about child abduction and police corruption in 1920s Los Angeles. Single mother Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie, excellent in a role with somewhat limited parameters) finds her 9-year-old son, Walter, missing when she returns home from work one day. She files a report with the Los Angeles Police Department, an outfit that was wildly unpopular at the time (in his regular radio broadcast, a crusading pastor played by John Malkovich decries the force as "violent and corrupt," adding that "our protectors are our brutalizers"). When a child roughly matching Walter’s description turns up in Illinois five months later, the LAPD, intent on salvaging its tattered reputation, is only too eager to claim that he is Collins’ missing child. Little matters that he’s three inches shorter, is circumcised (Walter wasn’t), and fails to pass muster with Walter’s dentist, schoolteacher, and others; the cops, in particular the odious Captain J.J. Jones (Jeffrey Donovan), insist that the mistake is Christine’s, not theirs. What follows is almost too nightmarish to believe--except that it actually happened. Exasperated by Collins’ continued claim that "Walter" is a fraud, they trot out a doctor to reinforce the bogus ID, declare her unfit as a mother, and finally have her committed to a local psychopathic ward. Through it all, Collins, bolstered by the pastor and thousands of outraged Angelenos, refuses to sign a document that would exonerate the police for their egregious error. As for Walter, it’s only when the LAPD’s seemingly only honest detective (Michael Kelly) takes matters into his own hands that the grisly mystery of the child’s fate begins to be solved. That would have been a good place for the film to conclude, too. Unfortunately, it goes on for more than another half hour, with innumerable false endings that add nothing to the story and could just as easily have been summarized with a few sentences before the final credits. That flaw aside (and it’s a major one), Changeling is a powerful film, with a realistic period feel, a wonderfully muted vibe and color palette, and an understated score by Eastwood himself. --Sam Graham
Stills from Changeling (Click for larger image)
Changeling Reviews:
My husband enjoyed it also. 
2009-12-23 - I thought it was going to be a chick movie, but my husband enjoyed it also.
A mother's nightmare
2009-12-23 - After seeing this movie I was struck most by two things: Angelina Jolie is a great actress and it's a terrible tragedy what happened to the woman whom she portrays in this movie. I don't know what percentage of the movie is accurate, but the fact it is based on a true story is disturbing. While there are some moments of hope, much of the movie tends to be gut-wrenching. If you like really good dramas which give a realistic depiction of a person's hardships and struggles, give this movie a try. By the end I really felt for the mother at the center of the story.
It wasn't bad enough that Christine Collins (the single mother portrayed by Jolie) had her only son Walter abducted, the police went and made things ten times worse. The corrupt Los Angeles police department in the 1920s already had a bad reputation so some officials did anything they thought might prevent further embarrassment. They claimed to have found Walter and reunited him with his mother; however, as soon as Christine saw the boy, she said it wasn't her son. The police chief coerced her into taking the boy home and ignored her continued pleas for help with finding her real son. The chief insisted the boy was Walter despite physical evidence to the contrary. When Christine, with the help of a local minister (played by John Malkovich), starts to make trouble for the police, the chief has her put away in an asylum, declaring her crazy. Only after the uncovering of a serial killer and a gruesome crime scene are the police forced to confront the issue again. Even with the discovery, many questions remain.
Hearing the screenplay was written by J. Michael Straczynski, whose sci-fi series "Babylon 5" is among my favorites, I was curious how his dramatic work would be and found it was impressive. His writing did justice to the story, evoking sympathy and keeping you guessing throughout. Clint Eastwood is a wonderful director and had a quality cast to work with that also included Amy Ryan as a prostitute who was another victim of the police department. The highlight though is Jolie who gives a truly heartfelt performance. After seeing this, one can easily make an argument she deserved an Oscar.
The Changeling
2009-12-22 - I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and didn't know it was based upon a true event. The costumes and seeing the streetcars in this movie had me yearning to be back in a period of time where life seemed to be at a more calmer pace than today.
Wow! I love it
2009-12-20 - This movie gave me something I didn't have before today: hope for great movie making from the mostly incompetent Hollywood movie machine. Great acting all around from most of the actors and especially from Angelina Jolie. Thanks for a great movie.
Another Great Purchase
2009-12-11 - You may think nothing can go wrong with a simple dvd order, but we all know otherwise. When everything goes right, as is the case with this order, we often take it for granted. However, I am here to say that I love doing business with those who honor their customer with such fine service. Another great purchase. Thanks.
