Since 2003’s Mystic River, Clint Eastwood’s career has been nothing short of stunning. That’s not necessarily because his films are masterpieces, but because he continually one-ups himself in terms of quality. Changeling is his latest, a fantastic, gripping, and at times unnerving story of a mother desperately searching for her missing son with help from almost no one in a position to do so.
Angelina Jolie is at her best since her underrated performance in A Mighty Heart, playing Christine Collins. After her son turns up missing from her home, the corrupt 1920s Los Angeles Police Department find a child, but it’s not hers. Despite Collins' certainty that this boy is not her own, the police write her off as crazy, fearing negative publicity.
Her struggle makes for outstanding cinema, with Jolie at the center. Her performance is gut-wrenching, at times hard to watch in a positive way. It’s impossible not to get behind her cause 100%, even as she lashes out at the wrong people. It’s also hard to believe this could happen to anyone, especially to this degree, but a script by J. Michael Stracyznski always pulls you into the story.
Eastwood’s direction is, as always, superb. Pacing is excellent despite the film nearing the 150-minute mark. No scenes are wasted, and the opening 20 minutes are mesmerizing as the saga begins to unfold. A fantastic supporting cast is filled with characters who serve their purpose, including a fine performance from John Malkovich as one of the few people who stand up for Collins.
Every moment of Changeling makes for top tier drama. If there was ever a woman who deserved this type of star treatment, it was Christine Collins, and Eastwood delivers a film worthy of her cause. Whether you’re a fan of Eastwood’s work or not, Changeling is still a film worthy of your time. 
Universal delivers an inconsistent VC-1 encode for this Blu-ray release. At times, it’s incredibly rich with detail, vibrant with its contrast, and razor sharp. Other times, it’s an over-processed mess, filled with light edge enhancement and dull blacks. Then again, flesh tones have a mind of their own, and some brief minor artifacting can be seen around the two-hour mark, so maybe the digital side of things does win out. Depending on the scene, this is either a high-end disc or a severe digital miscalculation. 
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