I don’t usually enjoy Clint Eastwood movies because I feel like Hollywood always talks them up and they usually let me down in most ways. Mystic River was saved by good acting and Million Dollar Baby just didn’t do it for me. Changeling, however, kept my attention from beginning to end with its unique story, great performances (mostly Jolie), and social commentary.

From the trailers, I didn’t really understand the point of the movie. So some woman loses her son and they bring her back the wrong one? That’s insane! And no one would notice this? How is this possible? Clint Eastwood is a crazy mummy-man! Once in the theatre, though, I started to understand the social dimensions of the storyline and recognize the historical gender stereotypes played on throughout the film: women are flighty, women are irresponsible, women are literal lunatics. Of course a lot of these assumptions remain today, but a single woman who loses her son in the 1920s would suffer the palpable consequences of this gender bias.

Coupled with the theme of discrimination in Changeling is the corruption that plagued the Los Angeles Police Department. It is a common idea that those in authority will be tempted to abuse their powers. This extends from police officers, to the doctors and psychologists who are on the police payroll. All together, these themes made the movie engaging to watch. Angelina Jolie is receiving Oscar buzz for her performance, and rightly so.