|
|
Shopping Girl - Changeling [Blu-ray]
![Changeling [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OBw-v13aL._SL160_.jpg)
|
List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $11.99
Your Save: $ 7.99 ( 40% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Starring: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, Michael Kelly, Colm Feore
Directed By: Clint Eastwood
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: Blu-ray
Brand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
EAN: 0025195053242
Format: AC-3
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Universal Studios
Release Date: 2009-02-17
Running Time: 141
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Clint Eastwood directs Oscar® winner Angelina Jolie and Oscar® nominee John Malkovich in a riveting and unforgettable true story. Los Angeles, 1928. When single mother Christine Collins (Jolie) leaves for work, her son vanishes without a trace. Five months later, the police reunite mother and son; but he isn’t her boy. Driven by one woman’s relentless quest for the truth, the case exposes a world of corruption, captivates the public and changes Los Angeles forever. This emotionally gripping story illustrates the profound power of a mother’s love in “a mesmerizing film that burns in the memory” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: ANGELINA JOLIE and CLINT EASTWOOD = A Winning Team!
Comment: The year 2008 was a year where he OSCARS where a FIASCO. Movies like this one that should've gotten OSCARS(Angelina was nominated as Best female actress and didnt get an Oscar - what a shame!)were treated by the wayside.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button suffered the same fate. That was the best movie of that year and like Forrest Gump it shouldve cleaned house. Brad Pitt on this movie was also nominated for Best Actor but was given to Sean Pean for a movie called MILK that you can find now at Walmart for $5. I guess they wanted to get in good with the Gay community at the Oscars because MILK cant touch Benjamin Button.
To the surprise of many, this was a great movie directed by Clint Eastwood.
PLOT - This movie takes place in the 20s. Angelina is a phone operator supervisor and leaves her son at home as she goes to work. When she returns she cant find him anywhere so she files a police report and tries for the police to help her but at that time, the police didnt want to look bad so they put her in a psychiatric ward because she made public that the police failed to help her finding her son.
It narrows down that a man in the 30s killed 19 kids and one of the kids that escaped came forward to tell the tale. The kid mentioned he saw Angelina's son as this man massacred kids sometimes 5 at a time.
With the help of an attorney, Angelina files a lawsuit against the police dept and not only the killer was sentenced to die by hanging but unfortunately Angelina was never able to recover from the loss of her son.
Is a great movie with a lot of substance that again it was treated by the wayside!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Eastwood directs a masterpiece
Comment: When I rented "Changeling" I had high expectations because Clint Eastwood is the director. These expectations were met. Eastwood gives us a very powerful film, which should be remembered in the many years to come.
"Changeling" is about mother Christine Collins (Jolie). One day when she comes home from work, her son Walter Collins is missing. After spending all night looking for Walter, Christine decides its time to call the Los Angeles police department, to report her missing son. After searching the police found Walter. When Christine firsts sees her found son, she realizes that the boy the police brought in is not Walter. Without giving away spoilers, Christine takes matters into her own hands, since the police insist they have found her son.
With Eastwood behind the camera, let's just say there is a big twist in the film.
"Changeling" is one of Eastwood's best directed films. The acting also is great, led by Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, and Jeffrey Donovan. The music in this film was done by Clint Eastwood, and is truly a masterpiece, which adds a lot to the film.
"Changeling" is based on a true story, which will leave you greatly satisfied.
Customer Rating:
Summary: wow.....
Comment: I had to take my blood pressure medication during this movie. And I'm a pretty tough dude.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Changeling
Comment: This story portrayed is true and unnerving. Might recommend the book as a companion to the movie to make the facts and story more realistic. Book is titled, "Nothing is Strange With You, the Life and Crimes of Gordon Stewart Northcott," By James Jeffrey Paul. Poor little Walter and Christine his mother were only 2 Victims of this horrid serial killer. Gordon Stewart Northcott was a very complex man and a true psychopath. His mother, Louise Northcott was no less. The book is hard to read for the soul and difficult at best, but chapter 5 is solely about Walter Collins, the little boy that the movie, Changling was portraying. Unbelievable what the system did to this woman at the time. But, the whole fact and the whole story is indeed stranger then just the part. If you got into the movie, the book is a must read.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Manufactured, manipulated tensions that kind of work...
Comment: When watching `Changeling', one can't help but get the feeling that they are being told exactly how to feel. The film is very, very thick with manipulated intentions that weigh on the audience. The film basically drips with manufactured emotional consequence, feeding you the feelings you're going to embody and delivering one harrowing moment after another. This is a film that desperately wants attention (of the awards body kind), a film that knows exactly what to do in order to ensure that you are going to walk away with the desired emotional impact.
Like I said; it kind of works.
The main issue I have with `Changeling' is that it tries so hard that it fails to incorporate something essential, something human. Instead of delivering us layers of emotion, we are delivered almost one unmovable line of high-octane intensity. This is a film that wants an Oscar, and it knows that Oscar very rarely looks in the direction of subtlety. Oscar, as a rule, prefers flashy.
That is what `Changeling' offers.
There was a lot of flak given to Angelina Jolie upon the time of this film's release, especially when she started attaining acting nominations. I have seen parody after parody of her "I WANT MY SON BACK" moaning and I have to admit, I find them amusing. Sadly, it is not Jolie that should be getting the flak, but the writers. The script itself doesn't give Jolie anything to really work with. She has one range here, and she sticks to it rather well. In fact, her performance isn't one to balk at, and in the film's quieter moments she really shines (those courtroom scenes where she says absolutely nothing are hauntingly effective). Sadly, she is reduced to a screaming mother throughout half the film, and that grows tiresome, and clichéd.
I will say this, I had no idea what this movie was about when I first saw it. I mean, from the buzz and the speculation, I kind of thought it was something supernatural. Thankfully, that is not the case. The film claims to be based on a true story, but it is apparent that some facts have been changed in order to create more tension and even to tie in some loose ends. The fact remains that this film concerns a mother's search for her missing son. Due to police corruption, this mother is reunited with a boy who is not hers, and when she tries to convince the police of that fact she is thrown in a psychiatric ward. It isn't until a major break in the case is discovered that her name is cleared, paving the way for her to take even more action against the police force.
The film has a few notable flaws, outside of the one I already mentioned. It does come off rather stuffed in the end, as it becomes apparent that they are trying to fit a lot in here. The films focus seems to get jumbled in all the plot lines running in and out of it. Also, the acting is uneven. The performances range from good to bad to sometimes good, sometimes bad. Like I mentioned, Jolie has her moments, but the script doesn't do her any favors. Devon Conti doesn't have to do anything except be unintentionally creepy, and this is a slight deterrent from the film. It is ridiculously apparent that the kid is NOT her son from the clichéd way he carries himself. I'm not a fan of John Malkovich, but he doesn't make any major errors here. Jason Butler Harner fares best here, and actually turns in a layered performance that makes you want to know more. I almost wish the film had been about his character, although I wouldn't really want to watch much more about the awful things he did. Eddie Alderson is pretty bad and unbelievable as Sanford, especially his breakdown scene; very `actory'. Amy Ryan is, once again, a cliché. As much as I HATED his character, Jeffrey Donovan was extremely good here, completely diving straight into a frustratingly ruthless character.
All of this said; it kind of works.
It's funny, because you would figure that, with this many issues, I'd be warning you to stay away, but the way that this film is pieced together makes for a really rewarding experience. I actually really like this film (thus the B grade). It is obvious on many accounts, but it is also very intense and pretty moving, even if it is manipulated to an extreme. The sets are gorgeous (and Jolie has rarely looked this luminous). The film is beautiful to look at, from the costumes to the cinematography. Everything fits nicely together, and even though it tries to stuff a lot into the films conclusion, it manages to make it work because it is not afraid of running over that two-hour mark. So, regardless of the negative points, I still highly recommend this film.
I bet you didn't see that coming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
