Thanks to our friends at Universal, i have FOUR copies of Changeling to give away to you this weekend!!



from Universal:
Inspired by actual events that occurred in 1920s-era Los Angeles, Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" tells the story of a woman driven to confront a corrupted LAPD after her abducted son is retrieved and she begins to suspect that the boy returned to her is not the same boy she gave birth to. The year was 1928, and the setting a working-class suburb of Los Angeles. As Christine (Angelina Jolie) said goodbye to her son, Walter, and departed for work, she never anticipated that this was the day her life would be forever changed.
 
Upon returning home, Christine was distressed to discover that Walter was nowhere to be found. Over the course of the following months, the desperate mother would launch a search that would ultimately prove fruitless. Yet just when it seemed that all hope was lost, a nine-year-old boy claiming to be Christine's son seemed to appear out of thin air.
 
Overcome with emotions and uncertain how to face the authorities or the press, Christine invites the child to stay in her home despite knowing without a doubt that he is not her son. As much as Christine would like to accept the fact that her son has been returned to her, she cannot accept the injustice being pushed upon her and continues to challenge the Prohibition-era Los Angeles police force at every turn. As a result, Christine is slandered by the powers that be, and painted as an unfit mother. In this town, a woman who challenges the system is putting her life on the line, and as the situation grows desperate, the only person willing to aid her in her search is benevolent local activist Reverend Briegleb.

from Ali:
After seeing Clint Eastwood's work over the last six years i can tell you, without a doubt, that i love him. i mean, you all, since 2003 this man has directed winners. all winners in my book - Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, Gran Torino...and now, i can add another winner to the list...Changeling.



I will admit, i had my doubts about Miss Angelina Jolie's ability to pull this off. This one is certainly not what we are used to seeing from her (Lara Croft anyone?) and i was worried about being able to see her as anything other than Brangelina, philanthropic mother of six, but she nails this one. If her goal was to capture one emotion throughout this picture, it was one of grief, and hoo boy did she ever make us feel her grief. and we DO feel her. We feel the anguish in her teary-eyed pleas.."i want my son back" we feel her as her character changes from weak and fragile to strong and heroic.

and of course, as a mother, i had my doubts about being able to make it through a movie where missing kids are involved. Often these types of movies leave me in emotional hysterics. and while it was tough to watch at times, i am so glad i did. 

the script was solid, the dialogue powerful, the images were perfect, and the story was simple...and i think that's where the beauty was, in its simplicity.

all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what your favorite Clint Eastwood work is...acting or directing, and you are automatically entered to win! i will announce the (random) winners on Monday. good luck!