Review: Changeling

Review: Changeling

Rating: **

Nonna's Rating: $

Rotten Tomatoes: 61%

I decided to withhold judgment on this movie. After all, it was a Clint Eastwood film -- nevertheless, it did star Angelina Jolie, and I've never been wowed by her histrionics. And she did pull out all the stops (organ reference) for this one. After all, she plays the single mother of a kidnapped child -- a role made for scenery chewing cinema. When the child is returned to her with great fanfare by the LA Police Department, she insists that he is not her child while all around her insist that he is. An incredible nightmare. The story plays out and focuses on the venal, unbearingly corrupt LA Police, immortalized for their lack of a moral compass in films such as Chinatown, Mullholland Falls, and L.A. Confidential.

There are at least three places where the film should end -- but it goes on -- and on. Eastwood is faithful to the actual story; unfortunately, that doesn't make for good cinema. I found myself waiting to see what would happen next but ulitmately found the film dissatisfying -- like a too light lunch.

Nonna's Ratings:

$$$$ = Worth paying the Friday evening price
$$$= Worth paying the Matinee price
$$= Worth a rental
$ = Wait for cable
# = Skip it