Changeling

Clint Eastwood: Changeling (US 2008) with Angelina Jolie as Christine Collins.

Vaihdokas / Changeling (SE). 

    US © 2008 Universal. P: Clint Eastwood, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Robert Lorenz. 

    D+M: Clint Eastwood. SC: J. Michael Straczynski. DP: Tom Stern - shot on 35mm - digital intermediate - 2,35:1 - color. PD: James J. Murakami. COST: Deborah Hopper. ED: Joel Cox, Gary Roach. LOC: California. 

    CAST: Angelina Jolie (Christine Collins), John Malkovich (Gustav Briegleb), Jeffrey Donovan (J. J. Jones), Colm Feore (James E. Davis), Jason Butler Harner (Gordon Northcott), Amy Ryan (Carol Dexter). 

    144 min. 

    Released by Finnkino with Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Jaana Wiik / Janne Staffans. 

    Viewed at Tennispalatsi 3, 9 Jan 2009.

A digi-mastered look, bleached, pared down, visually not of the best Clint Eastwood standard.

Another strong Clint Eastwood film. He has been at his best in this decade (Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, two Iwo Jima films). 

Changeling would be unbelievable if it weren't a true story of a woman who's son is kidnapped and who receives via the police another boy who isn't hers. Then a farm is discovered with the corpses of 20 murdered boys. And still many years later a boy believed lost is found who tells what happened.

This is the story of a heroic mother who refuses to give up, is put into an insane asylum, and, still fighting, causes changes in the police system and in legislation.

It is good to see Angelina Jolie in a role that is powerful in a completely different way than Lara Croft. 

There is a convincing period feel (1928-1935).

In the music I enjoy the jazz for horns, but strings are dragging. 

Clint's tempo is slow, refreshingly so in comparison with ultra-fast cutting in some current films, yet the film might be brisker.

There is a special sting in Eastwood making a film about LAPD as the most corrupt police department and our protectors as brutalizers.

Burn After Reading

Ethan Coen & Joel Coen: Burn After Reading (US/GB/FR 2008).

US/GB/FR © 2008 Focus Features. P+D+SC+ED: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen. P also: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner. DP: Emmanuel Lubezki – 35 mm – digital intermediate – print 35 mm color 1:1,85. M: Carter Burwell. Starring George Clooney (Harry Pfarrer), Frances McDormand (Linda Litzke), Brad Pitt (Chad Feldheimer), John Malkovich (Osborne Cox), Tilda Swinton (Katie Cox), Richard Jenkins (Ted Treffon), David Rasche (CIA Officer), J. K. Simmons (CIA Superior). A FS Film print viewed at the opening gala of the Helsinki International Film Festival (Love & Anarchy) at Bio Rex, Helsinki, 18 September 2008. – Print with a slightly denatured digital intermediate look. – The Coen brothers in good form. – Joel Coen: "If you want to call it a comedy I wouldn't protest. It's sort of about the CIA, the culture of physical fitness and internet dating". – The auteurs see this as the third film of their idiot trilogy. – A black comedy with fine performances (the best performance I have seen from Brad Pitt) and effective music by Carter Burwell. – The satire of a soulless way of life got a good laugh response from the audience. – The sharply written film has surprising twists, the ensemble is excellent, and it is not totally empty.

The Man In the Iron Mask

100653 / 12 / 9 / US / 1998 / Wallace, Randall / historical adventure
Man In the Iron Mask, The / Rautanaamio. © United Artists. D: Randall Wallace. Based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas. CAST: Leonardo Di Caprio (King Louis XIV / Philippe), Gabriel Byrne (D’Artagnan), John Malkovich (Athos), Gérard Depardieu (Porthos), Jeremy Irons (Aramis), Anne Parillaud (Queen Mother Anne), Judith Godrèche (Christine). 125’. 1,85. Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Outi Kainulainen / Ditte Kronström. DIST: UIP Finland. Viewed in Helsinki, VET, Friday 13 March 1998. *** Exciting story about the last adventure of the Musketeers. I haven’t seen the versions with Douglas Fairbanks or Louis Hayward. This one is a reliable entertainment product. Historically it does not feel true, not even as a fantasy.