Changeling

The last part of the film is unnecessarily pompous, here it would apply the famous saying that less is sometimes more.Otherwise, it is a gripping, minimalist and heart-wrenching story, where the otherwise mannequin-like and wannabe cool tough chick Angelina Jolie delivers the best and most heartfelt performance of her career. Clint Eastwood amazes once again with his perfectly thought-out old-school direction, and the production design and cinematography are superb elements in this perfectly harmonious masterpiece. Without a doubt, one of the best films of the year, and perhaps the best in terms of direction. (05/31/2009)

Disappointed I certainly am not, as I got exactly what I expected. Eastwood masters his craft reliably and chose such an attractive topic that it represents a sure bet within the US and world cinema, so to speak. The loss of a child, corruption and the incompetence of authorities, as well as police harassment against a fragile defenseless woman, the rampage of a psychopathic violent person, civil activism, and the expected victory of justice and democracy over corrupt individuals. The system is saved again, and we move on. In the first half, when the protagonist is crushed by the pressure of events and one marvels at the absurdity of the conditions in America at the end of the 1920s, it works very well, and my rating reflects that. However, after the drama moves to the courtroom, it becomes a standard, typically American, predictable spectacle according to the formula tried and tested many times. Overall, for me, it gets a 3.5-star rating, with my tradition of leaning toward a lower rating for such an acclaimed film. The casting of Angelina Jolie in the lead role also plays a certain role in that. I don't particularly care for her. Overall impression: 65%. (03/01/2013)

A formally smooth drama with a strong premise, hurt a little but an overly sweeping and inconsistent script. There are chilling and breathtaking scenes followed by more protracted ones, which somewhat bothered, because they don’t carry on with what the previous scene set up. I’d compare it to a car waiting at a traffic light: as soon as it starts, it has to stop again, and again. Angelina delivers a solid, though not Oscar-worthy performance (see Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road). The very fitting music is also worth mentioning, in the last shot it builds a very strong background with similar results as in Gran Torino (you’ll know if you’ve seen it). Changeling is a very good film, but I can’t give it the highest rating because some of this year’s Oscar hopefuls have had a bigger effect on me. (01/09/2009)

Clint Eastwood with fragile piano music is the Danielle Steel of serious topics. But for topics as serious as those addressed in Changeling, and especially for tying them together in some meaningful way, a big heart alone is not enough. (01/15/2009)

I appreciate how Clint's slow but focused direction manages to fully serve the story, telling it from the position of an unbiased observer while letting the viewer deal with the emotional whirlwind on their own. What I appreciate less is the fact that the last quarter is a bit of an appendix - a place that just is, but somehow the viewer can do without it, perhaps because the cards have been dealt long ago and nothing can surprise him anymore. Then there is Angelina, and although she’s great, she’s still and always just "Angelina™," which can't be hidden even by the elegant hat and the period hair and make-up. However, I do admit that the first two-thirds or so of the film hit me hard. (03/03/2009)