Harrowing, moving and beautifully filmed - Eastwood delivers the goods yet again

Rating: 9/10 (6 May 2014)

Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) is a single mother living in 1920's LA. She is scheduled to go to the cinema with her young son to see the latest Charlie Chaplin film. However, she has to cancel her plans with her son when she's required to go to work on her day off due to a shortage of personnel. She leaves her son behind informing him that the neighbours will pop round occasionally to check on the house. When she returns, she discovers that her son is missing. A few months pass by when the LAPD claim that they've found Christine's son in Illinois, but when Christine informs the LAPD that the boy they have found is not her son the LAPD assure her that it is and close the case. However, Christine knows that this boy is not her son and does everything in her power to find her son whilst she takes on the LAPD at the same time.
Based on a true story, Changeling is harrowing, moving and incredibly well acted. Angelina Jolie put in a very strong performance and also managed to be very convincing as the grief stricken woman who is pushed to the limit due to the awful way that she is treated by the LAPD. I knew from the premise that it would take a strong female lead to pull off this type of acting role and I honestly didn't think Jolie would be up to the job, but she not only delivered the goods, but she excelled proving that she's more than just a pretty face.
The fact that this is based on a true story makes this all the more frightening when you think of the way that women in particular were treated by the LAPD in the late 1920's. Anyone who came close to exposing corruption or mistakes within the LAPD were automatically deemed to be 'insane' and sent for psychiatric observation. The LAPD's corrupt influence even extends beyond their own department - when Collins is incarcerated the head doctor tries to get her to sign a disclaimer accepting that the LAPD are not to blame for the mistake involving her child in exchange for her freedom. It must have been utterly terrifying for Collins and all the other women involved knowing that they are innocent but feeling totally powerless and unable to do anything about it. I'll admit there were times when I found this hard to watch, but I couldn't take my eyes away from the screen as I was so engrossed in the story and the characters.
Jolie gets support from a largely excellent cast. When watching this, it really felt like everyone's heart was firmly in this and I can't think of anyone that gave a weak performance. Particular praise should be given to Malkovich in his role as church Pasteur/radio DJ Gustav Briegleb who helps Christine Collins in bringing down the LAPD. Jeffrey Donovan was also excellent as the evil Captain J.J Jones - he was despicable and succeeded in making me hate him which is a testament to both writer and actor. Jason Butler Harner was also good in his respective role of child killer Gordon Northcott.
Changeling is an incredibly moving and harrowing film, but it manages to produce the goods with very little sentimentality. Eastwood and Straczynski focus on Collins taking on the LAPD and also focuses on the dreadful treatment that she receives at their hands. It's an emotionally draining journey, but it's a worthwhile one. I loved it!!!