Changeling Critique
November 12, 2008
I Love Ya' Cleveland!
Let me first respond to the messages from the previous entry. . .
Bill from Rock Creek, Ohio. . .who knows? I ask that question everyday on the show!
R.J. from Parma Hts.. . .How dare you lump me into a group that wants Kellen Winslow gone! Your erroneous presumption infuriates me. I go out of my way to show respect to my callers and emailers. I go out of my way to give them the benefit of the doubt and the freedom to speak their piece and voice their opinions especially when they disagree with me. However, one of my pet peeves. . In 38 years in radio and television is being accused of saying something that I never said. You are grossly guilty of this inaccuracy! Before you write me or call me again. . .get your facts straight!
Bill. . from Athens. . .The movie you're referring to , Bill. . is Flash of Genius. Greg Kinnear plays an inventor who clashes with Detroit automakers. It's a good movie. . .and a wonderful performance by Kinnear. . and I recommend it.
I recently saw Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood. . starring Angelina Jolie. This is a good movie. I liked it very much but I can't say that I loved it. Therefore. . .I don't believe. . even as good as it is. . .that it will be nominated for Best Picture. My gauge for nominating a movie for Best Picture is when I walk out of the theater. . I say "Oh My God! What a movie!" I also gauge the film by the impact it has on me the next day. .the next week. . the next month. . etc. Changeling is based on a true story about a woman in the 1920's Depression of Los Angeles, California.
Jolie plays Christine Collins, a single Mom who works as a Supervisor at the Telephone Company. One day she comes home from work to discover her young son missing. This needless to say. . turns her life upside-down. The corrupt Los Angeles Police Dept. shows their incompetence in failing to find him. They then. . to avoid embarrassment from the press try to convince the mother that another boy. . who has been found. . is indeed her missing son. Despite her protests of denial the corrupt police Captain, portrayed by Jeffrey Donovan starts claiming that Christine is unbalanced. Thus, a Preacher, portrayed by John Malkovich supports her cause. His mission in life besides preaching the Gospel, is to expose the corrupt Los Angeles police dept. Malkovich gives another splendid performance. . .as he did in Burn After Reading. . .a film I critiqued in a previous entry.
The plot thickens when a serial killer is brought into the story and eventually. . .ties in with the kidnapping of Christine's son. Perhaps the movie jumps from Christine's story to the serial killers story a bit too much. . but it is necessary for Eastwood to tie everything together for the conclusion of this film.
Every actor in this movie does a great job. . .including. . .Geoff Pearson as a no-nonsense Attorney. . fighting for Christine. A small role. . .but incredibly impactful for him. . .which I feel could warrant a Best Supporting acting nomination.
Also. . Amy Ryan. . .who was nominated last year for Best Supporting Actress, gives a compelling performance as a psych-ward patient. Eastwood has another movie coming out this Holiday Season. . .entitled Gran Torino. . .which he also stars in. This brilliant talent. . considering his age. . .just keeps churning out noteworthy film after film!
Angelina Jolie. . who won Best Supporting Actress a few years back for Girl Interrupted, will likely and deservingly be nominated for Best Actress. Her portrayal of the grieving mother is compelling and extremely believable. I recommend Changeling.
Being Oscar Season. . this is my favorite time of the year for movies. Here's a glimpse of a few films I'm anxious to see that are receiving Oscar Buzz:
Australia
Milk
Doubt
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Revolutionary Road
Seven Pounds
Defiance
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Valkyrie
And
Gran Torino
See you at the movies. . .and I Love Ya' Cleveland!
