After months of fruitless searching, the Los Angeles police foist a different boy on her. Collins points out the obvious differences, complete with a dentist's report and records that her son was three inches taller than the impostor when he disappeared, and insist that they continue the hunt for her missing son. The corrupt LAPD denies her evidence, and eventually commits Collins to an insane asylum under the nebulous "Code 12" statute, a term that applied to anyone who "dissented, protested, caused trouble or objected" to police methods. Her release and the subsequent litigation changed the legal landscape in California.
An emaciated Angelina Jolie adequately stars as the distraught mother, at moments excellent and other times too overwrought even for this part. Playing against type, the amazingly subdued John Malkovich portrays Collins's major ally, preacher Gustav Briegleb, on a mission to clean up the LAPD. A cast of incredible supporting actors rounds out the cast, none better than TV's "Burn Notice" lead Jeffrey Donovan. As the unscrupulous Captain J.J. Jones, Donovan oozes devilish charm while furthering his career with little regard for others. Donovan really impresses as he holds his own with, and at times outshines, the acclaimed veteran stars. Geoff Pierson excels as the powerful and sympathetic Sammy Hahn, who defends Collins in the suit that eventually overturns "Code 12." While incarcerated, Collins meets Carol Dexter, the always brilliant Amy Ryan, who shows the beleaguered mother how to survive in the institution.
Eastwood masterfully establishes time and place through the liberal use of the fashion, cars and architecture of Prohibition-era L.A. The direction, while not exciting, demonstrates a clean, simple style.
The film accurately depicts the bleak, often powerless, existence of women during the period. Collins's struggles with the authorities, who accuse her of everything from being a bad mother to insanity, create the finest scenes in Changeling. Her eventual empowerment over these forces shines a ray of hope in an otherwise grim motion picture.
Perhaps the movie's biggest flaw, veteran TV writer J. Michael Straczynski's feature film script debut moves slowly and goes on far too long, with multiple false endings, including two extended prison scenes and an apocryphal moment four years after the main tale. The story suffers from a linear script that would have been better served beginning later in the tale.
Exactly the historically-accurate, socially-relevant tearjerker guaranteed to be hyped for Oscar consideration, Changeling combines some excellent acting with workman-like direction and a decent script into an above-average but not great movie. -MPM
Image top: Jeffrey Donovan and Angelina Jolie
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