Changeling

Released 26th November 2008, Changeling follows the true story of Christine Collins following the disappearance of her son. This film handles truly abominable scenarios for any human to face and, without spoiling the film, putting it like that is a complete understatement. Christine Collins’ story challenges the 1920s’ status quo of political corruption and mentality through trauma. Jeffery Donovan brings a phenomenal performance to Captain Jones; one of the two antagonists of the film. He is thoroughly manipulative, and you had better have a stress ball whenever his scenes occur; he heartless and you 100% believe it.

As for Gordon Northcott, the second protagonist of the film, he is brought to life by Jason Butler Harner. Whilst aided by how he’s written, Butler sells Gordon as nothing less than a demon sent straight from hell. Butler provides several facades towards Gordon’s character and the best summary I can think of is that he makes Sam Rockwell’s Bill Wharton from The Green Mile look particularly friendly. Angelina Jolie easily gives a career best performance here as Christine Collins; every single mannerism conveyed to the audience is believable and ensnares an emotional connection. She perfectly illustrates a woman who is confronted by pushback every step of the way through what is already an insufferable upheaval of events.

John Malkovich and Michael Kelly as Reverend Gustav Briegleb and Detective Lester Ybarra are fine; albeit generally one-note for large supporting characters. The same can be said for the soundtrack; it maintains a light-motif for Christine but outside of that it is, admittedly jazz (1920s originating music) based, standard ambience music. Overall, Changeling illustrates the mentality of those who are shafted by the bureaucracy in such an unapologetically uncensored way; yet maintaining a form of human beauty which may only fester in such ordeals.