Get Out More...............................Film Reviews

CHANGELING/LAKE VIEW TERRACE

19-12-2008

Two movie recommendations for the price of one by Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg, who catches the latest releases starring, respectively, Angelina Jolie and Samuel L Jackson.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and here's the proof - Changeling is based on the astonishing real life story of Christine Collins (Jolie) who was fobbed off with the wrong child by corrupt cops investigating her son's mysterious disappearance in 1928.

Don't let the implausibility of this key scenario put you off - in context, and with the guiding hand of Clint Eastwood's unerring direction, it all makes sense.

At 141 minutes, it's quite a commitment in terms of time, and undoubtedly rather gruelling - but it's worth being put through the wringer for the emotional punch it packs.

Jolie is outstanding in the lead role, but there are impressive supporting turns from John Malkovich as the preacher who believes in her improbable story; as well as from Michael Kelly as the dodgy detective and Jason Butler Harner as the evil Gordon Northcott.

Recommended.

Lake View Terrace also features an unreliable officer of the law - in this case Samuel L Jackson's disciplinarian Dad, bringing up a a pair of rebellious teenage kids in suburban L.A.

As the action unfolds, Jackson's character becomes progressively more unpleasant, as he needles away at the mixed race couple who move in next door.

This makes for sometimes uncomfortable viewing as Labute needles away at the underlying prejudices of American society.

Overall, and despite a slightly hokey ending, this is a compelling and unpredictable movie. Catch it while you can.

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