Between giving birth and saving the world, Angelina Jolie found time to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance.
In legendary actor-turned-director Clint Eastwood's (Letters from Iwo Jima) most recent film Changeling, Jolie proves to be more than just half of the world's most photographed couple.
Her latest role demonstrates that she is one of today's most talented actresses, giving a praiseworthy and poignant portrayal of a mother whose convictions alone were enough to restore justice to her city.
Taking place in late 1920s Los Angeles, Changeling is the riveting true story of single mother Christine Collins (Jolie, Wanted), whose 9-year-old son (newcomer Gattlin Griffith) mysteriously disappears one day while she is at work.
Upon returning home, Collins finds that her son is gone and frantically searches the neighborhood to no avail. Unable to find her child, Collins seeks the help of the police department, who refuse to take action until the boy has been missing for 24 hours.
After 5 months of alleged investigation, the police inform Collins that they have found her son. However, Collins quickly realizes that the boy is not her child.
With mounting pressures from a local reverend (John Malkovich, Gardens of the Night) who has made it his mission in life to expose the department's inherent corruption and lack of competence, the police prove they are more interested in good press than uniting a mother with her son.
Although Collins informs the police that the boy they found is not her son, they prove unwilling to admit their mistake and go to great lengths to cover it up.
As the plot unfolds, Eastwood exposes not only the corruption of the LAPD but also the inhumane conditions of mental hospitals in the 1920s. After speaking out against the police publicly, Collins is forcefully committed to the psych ward of a Los Angeles hospital.
Eastwood demonstrates the lack of patient rights for those deemed mentally insane, with scenes reminiscent of the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Though Changeling plays out as something of an epic film, its two-hour-and-21-minute runtime is not an issue. Unlike many other films, the length is not something that comes into consideration when viewing it.
The plot has enough twists and turns to keep audiences captivated throughout. In addition to this, a stellar supporting cast and Eastwood's penchant for historical accuracy makes this worth the price of admission.
The fact that the film is based on a true story makes it all the more disturbing.
After watching the eerie, dramatic plot unfold, it is clear Eastwood has made the all-too-rare type of film that one will watch and be forced to think about for days after.
Although Changeling is certainly worthy of Oscar consideration, it is not a film people should see if they are unwilling to devote adequate time to reflecting upon what transpires on the screen.
