Never Start a Fighting, Always Finish It

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2009)

On 09 March 1928 in Los Angeles, Christine Collins (Angeline Jolie) lives with her beloved son Walter (Gattlin Griffith) in Lincoln Heights. When she is assigned to work in overtime on Saturday in The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph as supervisor, she promises Walter to return at 4:00 PM to watch the latest movie of Charles Chaplin on the movie theater with him. However, she arrives home late and does not find her son; after seeking the boy out in the neighborhood, she reports the missing child to the police, but the police officer tells that she should wait twenty-four hours to register the complain. Five months later, Captain J.J. Jones (Jeffrey Donovan) communicates Mrs. Collins that her son had been found in DeKalb, Illinois, and is heading back home by train to reunite with her. In the train station, Christine does not recognize the boy as being Walter, but Captain advises her that his appearance has changed in five months. Sooner she confirms that the boy is not her son, but the corrupt LAPD does not accept her arguments. When Mrs. Collins is approached by the St. Paul Presbyterian Church Pastor Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovitch), who daily broadcasts protests exposing the corruption of the police force, she decides to disclose the evidence she has about the changeling to the press. However, the abusive Captain Jones sends Christine to an asylum to intimidate her. Meanwhile the efficient Detective Lester Ybarra (Michael Kelly) is assigned to arrest and deport an illegal Canadian boy that is hidden in a ranch in Wineville. He captures the boy, who discloses hideous crimes committed by his compatriot Gordon Northcott (Jason Butler Harner).
"Changeling" is another powerful movie of Clint Eastwood based on a true story. This movie is almost perfect, with magnificent direction, excellent screenplay, top-notch performances, awesome cinematography, sets, costumes, edition and soundtrack. I am not fan of Angeline Jolie, but her outstanding performance in this movie is certainly the best role of her career and deserved the nomination to the Oscar; further she has proved to me that she is a great actress indeed. Mrs. Christine Collins was a great woman and her quest for her son is remarkable. In the end, she has walked the way she talked to her son – "Never start a fighting, always finish it". My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "A Troca" ("The Exchange")