Just finished watching "Changeling"... it's something that i've always wanted to watch (since more than a couple of people told me that it is nice) but didn't have the time. I am sooooo glad I took the time to watch it today... before the rental is due tomorrow.
I was already crying somewhere within the first half hour of the movie, where Christine Collins, played by Angelina Jolie, couldn't get any assistance in trying to find her child and to have the police throw suspicions in her face and she couldn't do nuts about it. Many a times, given our current depiction of women in the modern society, scenes like that would not have happened. This film got what it aims to do: depict the sorrow of the women in the 1920s, who could not even protest over something as small as defending themselves against the anger of men, to something involving the life and death of another, albeit a child. But to me, it also shows the beginnings of a woman's independence; the start of men helping woman to find their place in the society of men, and to allow a mere woman to seek justice in times of injustice and corruption.
Another phrase during this phase stuck with me... when Reverend Gustav Briegleb, played by John Malkovich, exclaims, as he leads Christine Collins through the crowd of demostrators, " the works of God is a mystery" or something that indicates that God works the miracles of life, and in giving you what you wish for, in a mysterious way that you could never comprehend, but it will come.
The confessions of Sanford Clark, played by Eddie Alderson, as being an accomplice to his uncle, the notorious serial killer, Gordon Northcott, played by Jason Butler Harner, was very emotional and discerning. In fact, the events of this overkill section of the plot, is entirely disturbing; if not for the fact the plot centers on and around Christine Collins, this would have been a totally psychotic and disturbing film. Right from the part where Sanford admits to being the accomplice and taking part in the murders, to the part where Northcott was finally hanged, plus the ENTIRE scene of his hanging, the whole show is highly charged with hidden emotions and there was a depth to the whole movie that you will seldom find in popular movies. All the shots were slow and clean and simple, yet the emotions came through, especially Angelina Jolie, whose distraught came through in a thoroughly dignified manner. God, how I wish I could be more like her~!!!!
Another thought that came to mind was when two women, SANE women being held in a asylum against their will and was instantly connected through the injustice of their "crimes", came through for each other in a way that no others but them could have. One braved mental electrocution after trying to dislodge the other from the clasps of the staff; while the other worked to free the other from a life of condemnation in the asylum. It doesn't matter if you were a lady or a woman of the night, when thrown into a common circumstance, we are all just woman, alike. And no matter how much of a lady you may be, there are just some situations where you will have to be flexible and use the uncouth or unorthodeox methods to get where and what you want.
The last scene was the most endearing, yet most sad; the most unnerving, yet the most hopeful scene of the whole show. Yea, but life is a paradox. I felt that this ending really suited the desires of the film-makers and it really brought the film to focus.. [Quote]
[He (Michael Owens, Visual Effects) felt the abrupt cut to black pulled the viewer out of the film too quickly, and that it left no room for emotional reflection. Owens said, "There is a legend at the end before the credits. The legend speaks to what happened after the fact, and I think you need to just swallow that for a few moments with the visual still with you." Owens told Eastwood the film should end like Chinatown (1974), in which the camera lifts to take in the scene: "The camera booms up and she walks away from us from a very emotional, poignant scene at the end, walks away into this mass of people and traffic. It’s very hopeful and sad at the same time."[57]
Really, this ending gave me a spurt of hope and the realization that HOPE, is really the reason why all of us strive and persevere over certain matters, to the point of obstinance and rebellion. Because life is full of strive, corruption, negativity and vice, that we need to hold on to something to remind ourselves that this is THE reason why we have to hang on, hold on and walk on. HOPE, is also what GOD brought his son, JESUS to earth. Whereever he went, he inspired HOPE; he gave everyone HOPE.... whether HOPE of salvation, or HOPE of redemption and love, HOPE of repentence and forgiveness. And with HOPE, he inspired FAITH. See, this film struck a cord with, not just one, two, or even a small group of people. Judging from all the awards and boxoffice results that it has been given, it has clearly struck a cord with a WHOLE LOT of people. The question is, WHY?
I believe the answer could still be summed up in one word... HOPE.
