Strong, compelling performances are the main thing that drive this typically great Eastwood production

Rating: 9/10 (8 April 2009)

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
Based on the true story of Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) a single mother in 1920s Los Angeles whose young son goes missing. When she gets a call to say he has been found safe and well, she is overjoyed...only to find the boy is not her son. When she brings this little matter up with the chief of police, she finds herself thrown into an insane asylum. The outraged Rev. Briegleb (John Malkovich) begins a campaign for her freedom, and when she is free, she continues her fight to find her son and expose the corruption and shame of the police force.
Fact, as they say, is often stranger than fiction. If Clint Eastwood's true life justice drama were a work of fiction, there would be numerous plot holes that could be brought up, such as the mother not being able to prove the boy was not her son with a photo or other people not being able to verify her claims. But if the front cover says it's based on a true story, who am I to argue with it? A real 'you couldn't make it up' plot line, this story served as the wake up call that changed LA's mental health policy forever.
Aside from being an unbelievable story, it's also an uneasy and disturbing one, and an air of disturbance and unease hangs over it through out. Long and drawn out, the smooth pace and expert story telling never make it feel a drag. Of all the stars, Eastwood gets his best work out of lead stars Jolie and Malkovich, who both deliver strong, powerful performances, but that's not to say the supporting cast aren't on fire either, including Colm Feore as a police captain and Devon Conti as the oddball accused of unspeakable crimes.
It's a story that had to be made into a film and in the hands of a pro like Eastwood, it didn't go wrong. ****