Changeling

I probably hold the world record in time elapsed between posts. Is this an indication of the quality of films that have come out recently you ask? Well sort of... I did have hopes that films released this summer would be moving in some way. Was I asking too much by expecting out of this world narrative cinema to be showing at my local Vue..I would like to think not. Have I had to resort to ploughing through the archives for films that may possibly have some gravitas to them... no prizes for guessing the answer to that question. Now for the review...


Director: Clint Eastwood

Changeling is a film that I should have watched a very long time ago, but unfortunately it wasn’t very high on my ‘to watch list’.* Changeling tells the story of single mother Christine Collins, played by Angelina Jolie, a supervisor at a local telephone exchange who returns home from work late one day to find her son missing. Just when you think the loss of her son would be the most traumatic part of her story, the subsequent treatment that she receives from our ‘protectors’ following her claim that the boy that they found is not her son, equals in trauma.

This true story is really one of hope and strength and a testament to the power innate in all of us. Despite the harrowing injustice and fear she faced in the midst of unbelievable grief, her actions made it clear that such circumstances would never be allowed to defeat her both psychologically and legally. Whilst I wouldn’t want to spoil the ending, the experiences that she endured were by no means in vain. Regardless of whether you’re a parent or not, the Christine Collins story positively shows that with self-belief and determination we each have the power to affect the circumstances that we find ourselves in.

*That’s because I felt the need to watch G.I. Joe and others like it first – forgive me, I was coerced

The Mist

Director: Frank Darabont

Given the horror movies that Hollywood has recently churned out I was more than a little sceptical about the offerings of this film, I just didn’t think I had the patience to sit through yet another ‘torture porn’ flick. Ripping off the classic saying, this film is testament to that one should not judge a film by its genre but if must, judge by its director.

The Mist is another Stephen King novella adaptation that Frank Darabont can add to his roster of great works which include The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile … (need I say more). The story follows David Drayton (Thomas Jane) a movie poster artist whose local community in Maine is enveloped by a strange mist that holds blood-thirsty creatures. He along with his son and dozens of others finds themselves trapped in a supermarket where they are witness to the painful fact that, fear changes everything.

Without giving too much away this film could be described as a visual political philosophy lesson of Hobbes state of nature. But what I found most compelling in this depiction of the demise of humanity was not what happened but rather how quickly it occurred, this is especially true in the final scenes. I’ve always considered myself as having a relatively high level of patience, but who can say they know for certain how they would react if they found themselves in an equally traumatic situation. Which leaves me to ask; If our lives are motivated by hope, what do we become when that hope is gone?

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Director: Milos Forman

I have to admit I only watched this film very recently, last week in fact. Terrible I know, especially considering that it’s one of those must watch films, but I’m glad that I savoured the moment to a time where I can fully appreciate it. Best piece of entertainment advice I can give you this week, watch this film with a friend who could do with a little boost.

Without delving too much into the plot (the times I’ve enjoyed watching a movie the most is when I’ve had no preconceived conceptions on expectations), the story follows Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), who in an attempt to get out of spending more time in prison, pleads insanity for his crime and is therefore sentenced to time in a mental institution.

Whilst my account of the film may be different to yours, i.e. not crying! I really engaged with Nicholson’s character as he reinforced the notion that not every personality and situation can be painted in black and white. McMurphy a convict is not a bad man and the occurrences behind the white doors doesn’t stop the patients laughing. At risk of sounding cliché, McMurphy effectively conveyed the idea that happiness is not something you stumble upon but something you create. He thought he was going to find life a lot easier in the corridors of a psychiatric hospital than in prison, but upon discovering that an unemotional wall existed between him and others he made every attempt to dismantle those obstacles with laughter and a little improvisation.

The main premise that I took away from the film was just that, happiness is something that you create and it’s not worth moaning about a situation you find yourself in if you’re not willing to do something about it.

I’m interested to know what strings of your heart did this film tug at?