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Portraying a real-life role can
be a daunting task, especially that of a traumatised character but
Angelina Jolie has proved justice with her performance as Christine
Collins in the thriller `Changeling’.
It may have been suggested that director Clint Eastwood wouldn’t have
had trouble coining the name for his flick as you need `Angelin’ in
Angelina to make `Changeling’. Even though the movie is rather long at
141 minutes, Angelina’s dedication to the role is significant because
being mother of five, you can see that she isn’t faking it when she
loses her son.
The opening of the film shows how the relationship between mother and
son is close but a rather shaky one as her son Walter Collins (played by
Gattlin Griffith) makes it obvious that he needs paternal guidance.
His mother’s job in the telephone exchange doesn’t help his
loneliness and one can tell how it can be easy for him to be kidnapped
as the viewer eventually finds out.
However, the fact that the Los Angeles Police Department (L.A.P.D.)
is the most ruthless and corrupt police force in America reveals that it
isn’t possible to find a missing child in these circumstances.
The L.A.P.D. is brought to justice, the killer is brought to justice
and a friend of Walter’s tells how Walter helped him escape but nothing
can stop Christine Collins from looking for her son Walter.
Angelina might be more known for her pillow lips and her suave figure
but `Changeling’ really makes you stop and take a different look at her
for knowing the pain of a mother losing a child.
 
At first glance, Kate Winslet’s
Best Actress win in this movie would seem like the judging panel was
more interested in her appearances rather than her performance but
Winslet has improved in her acting from her early days as Rose in
Titanic.
As much as the Academy loves to give awards to any film made on the
Second World War, we see a rather earthly twist in the film which is a
remake of the book ‘The Reader’ by Bernard Schlink.
The film depicts how a 15-year old boy can be tormented by the memory
of a woman who took his virginity and how he can overcome it by
understanding her problem and helping her. ‘The Reader’ is rather a good
movie but not really the best one ever made especially when you compare
it with the book. David Kross and Ralph Fiennes are two great actors who
have breathed life into `Michael Berg’.
On the positive note, Kate has done justice to the role with her
personality and her acting reveals how she connected with the character
that garnered her the Best Actress award at the Oscars.
Win movie tickets from Majestic Cinema to watch `Australia’ and
Liberty Cinema to watch `Dragonball’ by filling the coupon with your
details. Please email: [email protected] or fax to 2429227 and you
will be informed about how to collect tickets. See page 21 for coupons
and last week’s winners
-Nilma
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