Comments on: The Real Christine Collins (subject of the film “Changeling”) http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/ News, Views, and Stuff You Can Use... Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:41:21 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: katie http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-703 katie Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:00:54 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-703 Wow. I just saw the movie and couldn't disagree w/the blogger more. Most commenters have done a decent job of pointing out why the blogger was incorrect. I do not know if the blogger is male of female but I found the movie to be pretty accurate and Jolie's portrayal not-at-all hysterical and in fact, quite dignified. Why was this case so touchy for the blogger? I know people's emotions can be triggered by certain things about films (I cannot stand a Michael Bay-produced horror film) but is it Eastwood you hate or Jolie? Either way I find your film critiquing skills lacking. Wow. I just saw the movie and couldn’t disagree w/the blogger more. Most commenters have done a decent job of pointing out why the blogger was incorrect. I do not know if the blogger is male of female but I found the movie to be pretty accurate and Jolie’s portrayal not-at-all hysterical and in fact, quite dignified. Why was this case so touchy for the blogger? I know people’s emotions can be triggered by certain things about films (I cannot stand a Michael Bay-produced horror film) but is it Eastwood you hate or Jolie? Either way I find your film critiquing skills lacking.

]]> By: Bonnie Ann Baker http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-701 Bonnie Ann Baker Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:28:58 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-701 I finally got to watch the movie last night. Among other things, I was impressed by the computer graphics utilized to depict Los Angeles in the 1920's. I grew up in LA and the movie brough back memories of travel on the Red Line. Unfortunately, it was subsequently dismantled due to the dictates of the oil companies, an ongoing political problem which still exists today. I thought Angelina Jolie was wonderful. I can't believe anyone would complain about her lips being distracting, such trivia. Angelia is a wonderful person, with great acting skills and it's not her fault she was born with beautiful lips. I finally got to watch the movie last night. Among other things, I was impressed by the computer graphics utilized to depict Los Angeles in the 1920’s. I grew up in LA and the movie brough back memories of travel on the Red Line. Unfortunately, it was subsequently dismantled due to the dictates of the oil companies, an ongoing political problem which still exists today. I thought Angelina Jolie was wonderful. I can’t believe anyone would complain about her lips being distracting, such trivia. Angelia is a wonderful person, with great acting skills and it’s not her fault she was born with beautiful lips.

]]> By: tee http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-700 tee Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:54:37 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-700 I am not a Jolie fan, but felt compelled to see the film because of the historic content. The review read by this blogger was, to be frank, a review from which the reviewer was wearing blinders during the film. what struck me most about the film was how easy it seemed in 1928 for women to be dismissed. someone posted earlier that a woman would certainly know her own child after six months... I tell you, any mother worth her salt would know their own child six YEARS later! Great movie... very sad story... may God see to it that nothing like that ever happens again. I am not a Jolie fan, but felt compelled to see the film because of the historic content. The review read by this blogger was, to be frank, a review from which the reviewer was wearing blinders during the film. what struck me most about the film was how easy it seemed in 1928 for women to be dismissed. someone posted earlier that a woman would certainly know her own child after six months… I tell you, any mother worth her salt would know their own child six YEARS later! Great movie… very sad story… may God see to it that nothing like that ever happens again.

]]> By: Sam http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-698 Sam Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:01:46 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-698 I prefer movies based on fact & knew this one would be good bc of CE. I was not disappointed! I chose to focus on the story, not AJ or other distractions. As a mom, I would've been hysterical at trying to find my child. The police were so bent on MAKING Ms. Collins take that child for their own self-righteous reasons, that she felt helpless. There was no real closure for her, even tho (in reality) the killer's mother admitted killing little Walter. Did they hang her too? Should have! She was no different than others like Ma Barker, etc. Too bad they don't hang killers now too. Prisons are too easy on these scumbags. I prefer movies based on fact & knew this one would be good bc of CE. I was not disappointed! I chose to focus on the story, not AJ or other distractions. As a mom, I would’ve been hysterical at trying to find my child. The police were so bent on MAKING Ms. Collins take that child for their own self-righteous reasons, that she felt helpless. There was no real closure for her, even tho (in reality) the killer’s mother admitted killing little Walter. Did they hang her too? Should have! She was no different than others like Ma Barker, etc. Too bad they don’t hang killers now too. Prisons are too easy on these scumbags.

]]> By: Caroline http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-697 Caroline Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:37:13 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-697 Great blog but you didn't get it all right. I think it is great that you are advocating for the real Christine Collins but I don't think you have watched the movie. Did you? You didn't, right? I thought so. You based your observations on a review. The movie is great. It does a great job at stating the facts. It shows Christine Collins as a courageous middle class woman that didn't take no for an answer. And, so what if Angelina Jolie portrayed the character a little emotional or hysterical at one point or the other. I'm sure that it is normal for any human being to lose composure when under a lot of stress, and the real Christine Collins probably did at one point or the other. This doesn't take away from her courage or her strength. If maybe Mr. Eastwood decided to focus on the raw emotion of a mother in distress in a couple of scenes or so, it was probably because it was until recently and even today that women are depicted as weak and even a little mentally unstable because they are emotional. Heck, that's exactly what was done to Mrs. Collins. The point is. You should watch the movie if you haven't. If you did watch it. Maybe you should watch it again because you obviously missed the resemblance to the real history of the case. Great blog but you didn’t get it all right. I think it is great that you are advocating for the real Christine Collins but I don’t think you have watched the movie. Did you? You didn’t, right? I thought so.

You based your observations on a review. The movie is great. It does a great job at stating the facts. It shows Christine Collins as a courageous middle class woman that didn’t take no for an answer. And, so what if Angelina Jolie portrayed the character a little emotional or hysterical at one point or the other. I’m sure that it is normal for any human being to lose composure when under a lot of stress, and the real Christine Collins probably did at one point or the other. This doesn’t take away from her courage or her strength.

If maybe Mr. Eastwood decided to focus on the raw emotion of a mother in distress in a couple of scenes or so, it was probably because it was until recently and even today that women are depicted as weak and even a little mentally unstable because they are emotional. Heck, that’s exactly what was done to Mrs. Collins.

The point is. You should watch the movie if you haven’t. If you did watch it. Maybe you should watch it again because you obviously missed the resemblance to the real history of the case.

]]> By: Stephanie http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-696 Stephanie Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:58:30 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-696 I got a lump in my throat when I read this comment. I can see how you would have related so deeply to this movie, and I agree completely that just because she didn't publicly show her grief, doesn't mean she didn't hold much of it in. I got a lump in my throat when I read this comment. I can see how you would have related so deeply to this movie, and I agree completely that just because she didn’t publicly show her grief, doesn’t mean she didn’t hold much of it in.

]]> By: Stephanie http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-695 Stephanie Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:54:01 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-695 I have this movie and love it. I am doing a paper on it in my theory class but have yet to decide exactly what the focus will be. I would like to focus on the gender roles in the story, and society's bounds on women during that period. The psychopathic ward scenes are especially relevant for this. I haven't coined my theorist that I will be using yet, but am hoping a meeting with the professor will clear things up a bit. In any case this is a fabulous movie- I cried the first time I saw it. I am a fan of Angelina and think this is one of her best works. She is fantastic in it and I don't think for a minute she came off as a "hysterical, screaming drama queen." I too, like many of the rest of you spent a lot of time staring at AJ's lips, but I don't think it retracted from the story at all. And anyway, how can you not stare at her? She has a classic beauty about her, and if anything I think it added to her portrayal, regardless of what the real Christine Collins looked like. I was totally absorbed into the character, and kudos to Clint Eastwood and Angie for making this movie, since without it, I don't think I ever would have heard of Christine and Walter Collins or the Chicken Coop Murders. It's nice when a film comes along that reminds us of events that have sort of fallen off the radar. Bottom Line: Fabulous movie. It could of won an Oscar but our Kate Winslet was long overdue for that honor. I have this movie and love it. I am doing a paper on it in my theory class but have yet to decide exactly what the focus will be. I would like to focus on the gender roles in the story, and society’s bounds on women during that period. The psychopathic ward scenes are especially relevant for this. I haven’t coined my theorist that I will be using yet, but am hoping a meeting with the professor will clear things up a bit.

In any case this is a fabulous movie- I cried the first time I saw it. I am a fan of Angelina and think this is one of her best works. She is fantastic in it and I don’t think for a minute she came off as a “hysterical, screaming drama queen.” I too, like many of the rest of you spent a lot of time staring at AJ’s lips, but I don’t think it retracted from the story at all. And anyway, how can you not stare at her? She has a classic beauty about her, and if anything I think it added to her portrayal, regardless of what the real Christine Collins looked like. I was totally absorbed into the character, and kudos to Clint Eastwood and Angie for making this movie, since without it, I don’t think I ever would have heard of Christine and Walter Collins or the Chicken Coop Murders. It’s nice when a film comes along that reminds us of events that have sort of fallen off the radar.

Bottom Line: Fabulous movie. It could of won an Oscar but our Kate Winslet was long overdue for that honor.

]]> By: Angela http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-694 Angela Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:57:12 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-694 For goodness sake! Retract your opinions of the movie based on a review! You have this blog and it is sadly rated well in Google as the above reply mentioned. Get your facts straight! The movie was an excellent portrayal of the events and the characters and very appropriate for the time it is set in. ..."I decided to resurrect my blog in light of the opening of Clint Eastwood’s film, “Changeling”, because I am deeply disappointed by what I’ve read in the reviews." Please watch a movie before becoming deeply disturbed about it! I guess you are a little more hysterical than Christine Collins or Angelina Jolie for that matter! I guess a reply to your blog would be useful at this time...at least on this particular page. For goodness sake! Retract your opinions of the movie based on a review! You have this blog and it is sadly rated well in Google as the above reply mentioned. Get your facts straight! The movie was an excellent portrayal of the events and the characters and very appropriate for the time it is set in.

…”I decided to resurrect my blog in light of the opening of Clint Eastwood’s film, “Changeling”, because I am deeply disappointed by what I’ve read in the reviews.”

Please watch a movie before becoming deeply disturbed about it! I guess you are a little more hysterical than Christine Collins or Angelina Jolie for that matter!

I guess a reply to your blog would be useful at this time…at least on this particular page.

]]> By: gary http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-693 gary Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:28:00 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-693 I agree with the 4 points absolutey. I do not feel that Jolie played a 'drama queen' as the critic states. Yes, she has emotional moments, but they were moments that any person, except perhaps a psychopath, would be emotionally affected by. The film does state that it is pre depression, and as the depression officially began with the fall in 1929, (but things were going south long prior, sort of like our economy today), the depression years were from '29 on...not just 'the 30's'! Also, she was hardly shown in the film as someone who was lower class, but indeed had her own home, etc...not something a woman on her own, with a child, would have if she were lower class (remember that there were already 'Hoovervilles' set up around the nation before the crash). I cannot help but think that one's opinion of a film should not force one to see things that are not there, to solely back up their negative opinion. You are obviously not one who appreciates Jolie's work, and that is fine, to each their own, but in this film, her work was, more than anything else, human. I am not sure why the writer here feels the needs to bring the film down by knit picking and seeking flaws, except that they just abhore the cast and film maker. I would ask the author of the original letter above to fact check before they bash things that they simply might not like. It is not accurate or fair. I agree with the 4 points absolutey. I do not feel that Jolie played a ‘drama queen’ as the critic states. Yes, she has emotional moments, but they were moments that any person, except perhaps a psychopath, would be emotionally affected by. The film does state that it is pre depression, and as the depression officially began with the fall in 1929, (but things were going south long prior, sort of like our economy today), the depression years were from ‘29 on…not just ‘the 30’s’! Also, she was hardly shown in the film as someone who was lower class, but indeed had her own home, etc…not something a woman on her own, with a child, would have if she were lower class (remember that there were already ‘Hoovervilles’ set up around the nation before the crash).
I cannot help but think that one’s opinion of a film should not force one to see things that are not there, to solely back up their negative opinion. You are obviously not one who appreciates Jolie’s work, and that is fine, to each their own, but in this film, her work was, more than anything else, human. I am not sure why the writer here feels the needs to bring the film down by knit picking and seeking flaws, except that they just abhore the cast and film maker. I would ask the author of the original letter above to fact check before they bash things that they simply might not like. It is not accurate or fair.

]]> By: Jo Wells http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/the-real-christine-collins-subject-of-the-film-changeling/#comment-692 Jo Wells Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:58:52 +0000 http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-692 If you are distracted by AJ, then it must just be you. I saw into the character; her feelings, fears, her pain, and definately her strength. Any human that is a parent can tell you that the portrayal of emotions was not being a 'hysterical drama queen', it is simply being a parent fearing the worst for your child. This is, by far, my favorite AJ movie and praises to Clint Eastwood for his directoral works, simply amazing. I felt each roll of the coaster as the emotions of the movie changed. If you are distracted by AJ, then it must just be you. I saw into the character; her feelings, fears, her pain, and definately her strength. Any human that is a parent can tell you that the portrayal of emotions was not being a ‘hysterical drama queen’, it is simply being a parent fearing the worst for your child.
This is, by far, my favorite AJ movie and praises to Clint Eastwood for his directoral works, simply amazing. I felt each roll of the coaster as the emotions of the movie changed.

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