Changeling (8/10)

To put it simply, Clint Eastwood is on a roll. Any actor would be very fortunate to be able to work with or for him.

This story was based on the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders that happened around the same time as the movie was set in, in 1928. The screenplay by J Michael Straczynski has followed quite closely to the real events.

Eastwood’s pacing and progression was careful and comprehensive. He let the audience soak up every scene with the most convincing performances from his cast. Especially with Jolie’s character where her every emotion were effectual and never failed to show or compromised her inner kindness.

Jolie has stripped off her tough image from tomb raiding and gun swinging to give a quiet but incredibly moving performance of a classic heroine. I honestly didn’t see it coming, not from her. And it was her that Eastwood relied on to carry the movie forward. Her performance really captured the essence of her character and was even able to inspire through the screen.

The other cast such as Jason Donovan and Jason Butler Harner both provided equally magnetic performances as well. Donovan was able to instill hatred playing the irresponsible and ignorant police officer while Harner as the psychopath managed a chilling performance at the end that was able to make the audience feel for his demise.

John Malkovich was again nothing less than spectacular in his supporting role as the preacher on a mission. Every word he uttered he was able to make it boom loudly through the screen.

But all these are to Eastwood’s credit for being able to squeeze out every emotion from his actors on every shot. Together with Straczynski’s script and his ability of story-telling, as well as the vision of cinematographer Tom Stern, Eastwood has delivered yet another first-class piece of moving art.

My only question is why Eastwood decided not to make this into a thriller instead because it almost was and should have ended as one.