Changeling

Christine Collins comes home to find her son, Walter, missing. After months of searching the LA police department shows up at her office with the news that Walter has been found alive in Illinois and is on his way home. To her horror, the boy that is returned to her is not her son. To make matters worse, the police department is determined to prove that they have in fact done their job and that the boy is Walter.

This movie, based on a true story, is amazingly difficult to watch, nevertheless Clint Eastwood does a great job of recreating LA in the late 20's. Angelina Jolie, who is normally seen in power femme fatale roles does an incredible job as the reserved, soft spoken single mother during a time when very few people publicly denounced the authorities. Granted it gets horrifically frustrating at times, but again that is part of the era. What was totally unexpected is the gruesome twist that pops up mid-flick. All the more horrifying when you remember that this is a true story.

The score is really well done and completely draws you in and again the pacing and characterization can get a tad exasperating but all in all it is very well made and albeit grisly, still entertaining.

*** Must See

Rated R (some violence and disturbing content)