Mail.Onlline: Clint, you just made my day by Chris Tookey

Excerpts:

It contains a wonderfully passionate, sometimes ferocious leading performance by Angelina Jolie, who deserves to be a formidable contender for the Best Actress Oscar.

There isn’t a weak performance, but Jolie is the revelation. She shows miraculous depth as an ordinary mother who doesn’t want to make waves, but is then forced into situations where she has to make a stand.

Excerpts:

It contains a wonderfully passionate, sometimes ferocious leading performance by Angelina Jolie, who deserves to be a formidable contender for the Best Actress Oscar.

The film also develops into a coruscating critique of male sexism.

All the same, it’s not too tough a watch, for there are elements of black humour in the bone-headedness of men unwilling to countenance the possibility that a woman might know her own child better than they do.

Changeling is among the finest films Eastwood has made, and an all too rare example of a Hollywood film that’s been made for grown-ups.

There isn’t a weak performance, but Jolie is the revelation. She shows miraculous depth as an ordinary mother who doesn’t want to make waves, but is then forced into situations where she has to make a stand.

The film is also a splendid expose of political corruption. Though male chauvinism isn’t as toxic today, much of the subject matter, including its warning against allowing those in power to cover up mistakes, establish a police state and spin the news against anyone who crosses them, remains as powerful and relevant as ever.

I’m always wary of that overused word ‘masterpiece’, but this is one film that deserves the accolade.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-1090074/Clint-just-day.html?ITO=

Keep track of ups/downs/whys:

awardsdaily.com
incontention.com

http://andthewinneris.blog.com/
awardscircuit.com
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/awards/contenders/

Italian auds and critics agreed over Clint Eastwood’s Angelina Jolie starrer “Changeling,” which grossed $1.6 million from 299 runs for a respectable $5,402 per-location average. “Changeling” got off to a slow start in France — where Eastwood is something of a national hero — but made up for it. In its first five days, pic earned $2.8 million from 417.

Sun., Nov. 16, 2008, 10:08am PT

Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling” launched respectably in its first foreign openings with $4.7 at 727 in four markets, led by a $2.7 million French debut that came in just behind the third frame of “Solace.”

AND THERE’S JUST AS MANY AND MORE WHO LOVED IT. More tomorrow . . .

The competition is strong this year for BP/BD/BA/BA, that’s why most oscarologists have dropped Changeling from their predicted top 5. Doesn’t mean they WON’T be for sure.

I’m in the grip of la grippe so I’ll give a sketchy outline then fill it in more on Saturday- when I hope I’ll be better.

1. Near universal acclaim at Cannes
2. Shock at first negative reviews from New York Film Festival
3. (Various reasons for negative response)
4. Overall mixed critical reviews/ratings, higher user ratings
5. Good but not boffo box office
6. Team X-Vogue-NYT-Guardian/Observer