the Popcorn
Reel Awards Season 2009
best picture best director
best actor best supporting actor best
supporting actress
best actress guaranteed nominee
by Omar P.L. Moore/The Popcorn Reel
November 12, 2008
ANGELINA JOLIE as Christine Collins
A performance that smolders and explodes --
these adjectives define the acting of Angelina Jolie in "Changeling", Clint
Eastwood's film based on the true story of Christine Collins, who in 1928 in Los
Angeles had her only child kidnapped. Ms. Collins had to overcome the
corruption rife within the Los Angeles Police Department to get to the truth
about what happened to her son, in an age in America where women, who were just
finding their voices following the triumphs of the suffrage movement in getting
women the right to vote, were still supposed to be seen and not heard. Ms.
Jolie however, is seen and heard, giving power, vulnerability and a moral
certitude to Ms. Collins, without appearing to be self-righteous. This is
a difficult feat, and it would have been easy for Angelina Jolie to tear into
the role by grandstanding and making theater out of it, but Ms. Jolie wisely
restrains herself, becoming a self-contained presence, dramatically lowering her
star-power wattage and absorbing the character she becomes.
"Changeling" opened last month in the U.S. and Canada, and Ms. Jolie who has
performed better in more serious roles ("Girl, Interrupted", "The Good
Shepherd", "A Mighty Heart") than she has in comedy or action fare ("Life Or
Something Like It", "Mr. And Mrs. Smith", "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider", "Wanted"),
looks a lock for a nomination for Oscar in January. Curiously, Ms. Jolie
was not nominated for last year's film "A Mighty Heart", which makes the
possibility of her nomination for "Changeling" all the more likely this time
around.
Awards Season 2009 Headquarters
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