movie - changeling

changeling joins chinatown, la confidential, and the onion field, (among others,) in the pantheon of films set in a historic los angeles, which tell fascinating stories and simultaneously chronicle some aspect or period of city history. until the day when someone turns mike davis' city of quartz into a film, changeling is likely as realistic a feel for 1920s los angeles as can be seen.

j. michael straczynski wrote the screenplay after doing extensive research on the facts of the story and that research comes through on screen. yes, los angeles had rail cars, a ham-fisted police department and women in the work place who were required to wear roller skates. it is this authenticity that turns the film from a mere fact-based story to a special film worthy of oscar consideration.

angelina jolie plays christine collins, a single mother whose son walter was abducted by gordon northcott and his mother and was presumably killed in the infamous "chicken coup murders." jolie has been nominated for a best supporting actress oscar and deservedly so. that said, angelina jolie is sort of accepted as one of the most attractive women on this planet and despite the demure clothing she wore for the part, there was something disconcerting about her being single, about an entire police force treating her as persona non grata and worse, and about more people besides a local priest not coming out to support her. it just did not ring true. (isn't it refreshing to discover there really can be a downside to physical beauty?)

still, once one gets away from the fact it's angelina jolie up there on the screen, it is easy to see that she gave a great performance. she shows great range in the role and perhaps more importantly, considerable restraint, (which worked.)

for his part clint eastwood does an admirable job directing. his straightforward style keeps the pace brisk thereby negating the 141 minute run time.

changeling tells a factual story in its proper historical context. further, it is dramatic and suspenseful and includes an array of solid performances from the actors, the writer, the costume designer and virtually everyone involved.