Jessica McGilvery
Movie Review


“My name is Christine Collins. On March 10th, my son Walter Collins disappeared. A five month investigation led to a boy being brought to Los Angeles from De Count, Illinois. The LAPD told me and all of you that this boy was my son. He is not my son.” – Christine Collins

Changeling, based in 1928, is a true story about a woman named Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) who loses her son and runs into many problems with the police when trying to get her nine-year-old son back. She goes into work (at a telephone company) one day after she has already promised her son, Walter Collins, that they would go see a movie. When she leaves she promises that they will see the movie tomorrow, not knowing that she would never see her son again. When she returns home there are no signs of break-in, but Walter is not there. She becomes frantic and begins to search all over town for him. Then she calls the police and is informed that the police will not do anything until Walter has been missing for 24 hours, leaving her helpless.

The next day she tries to get help from the police but she would probably have been better off without them. Miss Collins lives in Los Angeles which, at that time, was run by a corrupt police force. In that time, the police would “get rid of” people who went against them. So they had all of the power, which they used for evil. A local Christian Minister, played by John Malkovich, knew just how corrupt the police were and would give speeches on how LA needed to change. He warned people of what the police were up to and told them that they needed to beware.

Since they have such a bad reputation, a few days later they try to improve their image by providing Miss Collins with a boy who claims his name is Walter Collins. However, when Miss Collins greets “Walter Collins” she realizes immediately that he is not her son. The main police officer, Capt. J.J. Jones, (Jeffrey Donovan) tells her that he is sure that she just needs some time with him, seeing as the boy has no place to go, and she will realize that it is her son. He even suggests that maybe he just seems different because he has been through a lot. Miss Collins takes the boy home because she feels bad for the boy, but she knows he is not her son. Hearing of her story, the Christian Minister believes Miss Collins and tries to help her find her real son.

Later, Miss Collins measures “Walter Collins” and finds proof he is not her son. He is three inches shorter than her son, before he disappeared and she took the boy to his teacher and dentist who both say that the boy is not Walter Collins. The dentist says he has different teeth and the teacher explains that he doesn’t know where his seat is in his classes. Miss Collins then goes back to the police station to talk to Capt. J.J. Jones about the differences she has found, but he will not hear any of it. When Miss Collins tries to fight for her son she is told that she is crazy and that they have already provided her with her son. Then Capt. J. J. Jones has her thrown into a mental institution. While she is enduring the mistreatment in the mental institution, the police then tell the press a twisted version of her words to make her sound like she is an irresponsible mother. Reading this, the Christian Minister starts to search for Miss Collins. While all of this is going on a police detective finds out horrific information about the real Walter Collins’ whereabouts. Where is the real Walter Collins? Will he ever be reunited with his mother? Where did the other Walter Collins come from?

This movie is full of twists and turns, and is overall an awesome movie. Through its plot, Changeling explores the corruption of a legal force, the mistreatment of the mentally ill, misuse of power, the evils of people’s actions, and all of the emotions of sadness, frustration and hope that go along with it. This movie will keep you rooting for Miss Collins and wondering what is going to happen to both boys. The fact that it is a true story makes it all that much more interesting. You have to watch it to find out how it ends! It’s now on DVD and on On Demand and I promise it is worth the rental!

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Miss Collins (Angelina Jolie) with “Walter” The Christian Minister (John Malkovich)

talking about corruption.