Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Changeling Blu-ray Movie Review

Clint Eastwood strikes again!

Reviewed by Ben Williams February 17, 2009

As Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood closes in on the age of 80, he occupies a rare seat among Hollywood's greatest directors by continuing to produce exceptional work. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Mr. Eastwood seems to improve with age; his films have continually become more complex, involving and expertly crafted. In fact, Mr. Eastwood has achieved such heights as a director, it's sometimes too easy to forget that the man also just happens to be a producer, composer and one hell of a legendary screen actor. As has been the case in previous years, when Mr. Eastwood gets the urge to direct, he generally can't stop with just one in a calendar year. His first film, out of two, in 2008, was Changeling; a heavily stylized drama that tells the story of a forgotten controversy in 1920s Los Angeles. It's a brutal and painful film; one that is bound to stir up plenty of emotions while serving as further evidence of Clint Eastwood's skills behind the camera.

Avon calling!

On the eve of the Great Depression, 1928 to be exact, telephone operator Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) discovers that her son, Walter (Gattlin Griffith,) has disappeared into thin air. Unaided by a corrupt police department and left to fend for herself, Christine searches high and low for her missing boy. Surprisingly, the police claim to have miraculously rescued her missing child and present her with who they believe to be her son. Christine, however, is convinced that the boy is an impostor; he's too short, looks nothing like her son and behaves differently. She'll be branded insane, thrown in an asylum and publicly scorned for her behavior until a radio evangelist, Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich), and a stubborn police detective, Lester Ybarra (Michael Kelly), discover that Christine might have been right all along.

Changeling is a tough film to watch. The situations are intensely emotional, many characters are seedy and frightening and the whole world within the movie seems to exist to make Christine Collins' life as difficult as possible. The film is so paranoid in its depiction of the the various campaigns to discredit Collins, that it can often become overwhelming. Fortunately, Mr. Eastwood's steady and confident direction, as well as the film's impressive array of performances, translate to a compelling and involving movie experience.

This is clearly an Angelina Jolie movie; she's the focal point of the story and is front and center in almost every frame of the film. She carries the load well, depicting Ms. Collins' struggle to find her son, despite odds that would destroy the average person, in a believable and stoic manner. The supporting cast is also well rounded and diverse. The always amazing John Malkovich steals all of his scenes as a brazen radio evangelist with a vendetta against police corruption, while Michael Kelly's turn as an honest cop surrounded by corruption signals his entry into the ranks of budding movie stars.

Changeling is billed as a true story; I'm not entirely sure how accurate that statement is, but the film does manage to feel authentic. I always expect greatness from Mr. Eastwood and, as always, he hasn't disappointed. Changeling is yet another remarkable film from this remarkable and timeless director. Highly recommended!

Changeling Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Possessing a highly stylized look intended to harken back to faded photos and older films, Changeling arrives on Blu-ray with its intended look perfectly intact. Cinematographer Tom Stern, a longtime Eastwood collaborator, has bathed the film in sepia-toned hues that give the impression of hand tinted photographs. It's a unique look that manages to reference the past while serving as a fine example of modern cinematographic technique.

Universal's exceptional Blu-ray edition of Changeling arrives with a full 1080p transfer using the VC-1 compression codec. As one would hope to be the case, the film's original 2.40:1 theatrical aspect ratio has been preserved. Black levels and contrast are handled exceptionally well, though many viewers will notice instances of black crush creeping into the image. This appears to be entirely consistent with the faded and color- drained look of the film. The image maintains a moderate level of detail; yet another area in which this transfer is remarkably true to the source material. Compression artifacts, noise, edge enhancement and other signs of compromised encoding are noticeably absent as well. While Changeling isn't going to pop off the screen with vibrant colors, it is a fine transfer of a heavily stylized film. Highly recommended!

Changeling Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I was a little surprised at just how effective the 5.1 DTS HD-Master Audio track turned out for Changeling. I was expecting more of a dialogue-based presentation that lacked any kind of serious surround activity; Boy, was I wrong. The sound designers who worked on Changeling clearly had a lot of fun in playing with spacial effects and heightened atmospheres, as the film's soundtrack does a ridiculously good job of creating realistic and never gimmicky ambiance.

Naturally, dialogue is expertly rendered and never drifts into unintelligible territory. Bass is also quite heavy at times while never seeming excessive. Surround activity is situational in use; most indoor scenes, especially those in the mental institution, reverberate with a convincing aura of isolation and fear. Changeling features an unexpectedly remarkable lossless soundtrack that is consistent and eerily realistic. Highly recommended!

Changeling Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Here's what's included:

- Picture-in-Picture Cast and Crew interviews
- "Los Angeles: Then and Now"
- Archives
- "Partners in Crime: Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie"
- "The Common Thread: Angelina Jolie Becomes Christine Collins"

Universal has assembled a somewhat muted collection of special features for Changeling. The ubiquitous U-CONTROL feature that is present on almost all of the studio's releases is once again utilized for controlling interactive features while the movie plays. The Picture-in-Picture track, "Los Angeles: Then and Now" and Archives features are all intended to be viewed in conjunction with the film; all three deliver historical perspective on the film's events while adding small bits of information on the movie's production. The Archives supplies the most interesting information of the three interactive features; these photo clippings and news items from the actual events that inspired the film add a great deal of depth to the viewing experience. Changeling also includes two documentaries that focus on Eastwood's and Jolie's working relationship, the script's creation and behind the scenes goodies. Those who enjoy EPK-style featurettes should be pleased.

Changeling Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Changeling represents another challenging and complex entry into Clint Eastwood's impressive run of exceptional filmmaking. Mr. Eastwood's effortless consistency at continually delivering groundbreaking and original films serves as proof that he should be considered amongst the greatest directors in the history of cinema. While Changeling retains many of his trademarks, the film explores new emotional territory; effectively capturing the tone of late 1920s Los Angeles while featuring an array of impressive performances. Universal has continued their streak of exceptional quality Blu-ray releases; Changeling offers outstanding picture quality and stellar audio that present the film both accurately and respectfully. Although I didn't find the supplements as compelling as the film itself, there are still a few nuggets of interesting information to be gleaned from the set. As this year's Oscars approaches, now is the time to give Changeling a spin. Highly recommended!