Changeling Trailer

This Year’s “IS THAT MY DAUGHTER IN THERE?” Oscar Goes to Angelina Jolie
The Sean Penn School of Acting / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | September 12, 2008 | Comments (32)

How do you know that Oscar season is impending? Because Clint Eastwood has a film coming out, and there’s lots of yelling. And I swear to God, Angelina Jolie channels Sean Penn in the trailer for Changeling. “I WANT MY SON BA-ACK!”

But you know what? From this two-minute clip, you know who looks and sounds amazing? Not Angelina Jolie. Not John Malcovich. But Jeffrey fucking Donovan. I think I’d given him a supporting actor nod just for his role in this trailer.

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Comments

Can't see the trailer at work, but wow, that is not a flattering picture of Angie.

Posted by: Todd at September 12, 2008 9:14 AM

oh, how i love the oscar-vying trailers with orchestral music that give you that tingly feeling up your spine.

Posted by: Sasha at September 12, 2008 9:22 AM

I LOVE John Malcovich. Just give him an Oscar already!

Posted by: Sofía at September 12, 2008 9:31 AM

Is it weird that Malkovich still creeps me out even when he's playing a good guy?

Posted by: S.K. at September 12, 2008 9:39 AM

I know this is a minority opinion but I freaking HATED Mystic River and that "Is that my daughter in there?!" scene is a prime reason. Eastwood is a solid director, no doubt. But shit like Bloodwork and Oscar pandering tripe like MR on his resume just keep him out of the greats for me.

Posted by: TylerDFC at September 12, 2008 9:44 AM

I see from the trailer that this movie has the obligatory wet, nekkid Jolie scene. Can anyone name a Jolie movie in which she doesn't appear wet and nekkid?

Posted by: BWeaves at September 12, 2008 9:51 AM

I'm just starting to get confused about why she seems significantly older than our shared age. Is it the current gauntness?

Posted by: Jay at September 12, 2008 10:11 AM

Jay, she is scorched earth. She hooked up with Billy Bob Thornton. And if you've seen her dad lately, you know where she's headed.
(Also, I saw a bottle of Magnum .45 at the 711 and no one wanted to buy me it. They said I'm better than that.)

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at September 12, 2008 10:18 AM

I'm normally one of the first to come to Angelina Jolie's defense against allegations of overacting and possible Oscar baiting. I don't want to judge the Changeling (even though it's VERY different from what I assumed it was with that title (what, Clint Eastwood's afraid of doing a dark fantasy film?)) without seeing it, but those mental ward scenes look like Girl, Interrupted without the charm. And by charm, I mean Whoopi Goldberg and Angela Bettis. And don't get me started on her delivery as seen in the trailer. I haven't seen scene chewing like that since The Producers.

I'll go so far as to say: if they wanted an actress who looked unconventionally attractive in a throwback kind of way, they should have just hired Angela Bettis. She can sell some really awful, contrived dialogue (I want my boy back!) in a way that seems natural. For evidence, watch The Circle by Yuri Zeltser.

Posted by: Robert at September 12, 2008 10:38 AM

They said I'm better than that

Oh, they meant you should buy Schlitz malt liquor instead.

No one does it like the Bull, after all.

Posted by: Jay at September 12, 2008 10:48 AM

Oh is that doubt?

Kevin Kline has no doubts!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnP15Cv7eJo

Neither do Marshall Tucker Band and .38 Special.

Posted by: Jay at September 12, 2008 10:53 AM

Angelina does X-Files: "My son is out there! With the truth!"

She'd be better off doing Dallas.

Posted by: Cindy at September 12, 2008 11:08 AM

TylerDFC I'm with you on Mystic River. while I didn't hate it, I certainly didn't understand all the praise, certainly for Sean Penn. I don't recall who else was nominated that year, but I remember thinking the Oscar should have gone to another actor.

The Changeling's story upsets me too much. If my son up and disappeared and then the fuckhead cops come to me with SOME OTHER KID and force me to say it's my child, he's been found...the thought makes me want to barf.

Posted by: Alabamapink at September 12, 2008 11:29 AM

I'm trying to understand what the perceived problem is here, but I can't quite hear you over the sound of that axe grinding.

Given the subject matter, I think a histrionic reading of some of these scenes would be more than justified. That said, I didn't see anything that came remotely close to crossing that line.

Posted by: firedmyass at September 12, 2008 11:48 AM

Changeling? So this isn't about a shape-shifting demon baby? Angelina Jolie doesn't wield a shotgun in any of the scenes or engage in any high speed chases? Lame.

PS. I'm still waiting for Gia 2: Revenge of the vag

Posted by: Just kyle at September 12, 2008 12:08 PM

i've gotta be honest, even though I agree that she should be freaking out given the circumstances, her reading in this trailer is just awful. Maybe it will sound better in context in the film (which I will of course be seeing since John effing Malcovich is in it). Also, am I the only one who feels that the surname Malcovich just sounds like it should have a 'K' in it? It was difficult for me to type it without one. Just sayin....

Posted by: Becks at September 12, 2008 12:28 PM

Just Kyle @ 12:08

I'm with you. Gia 2: Electric BOO-galoo!

Posted by: grenadine at September 12, 2008 1:51 PM

Also, am I the only one who feels that the surname Malcovich just sounds like it should have a 'K' in it?

You little snark, you.

Posted by: Jay at September 12, 2008 1:54 PM

Whoa, haters, chill for a moment and let's evaluate what we saw. Is a ~2 minute trailer enough to charge one of the hottest women alive with scenery chewing? A lack of warmth? Let's see what we know - Angie's a mother with a missing son, given a replacement by virtue of police incompetence/coverup, who gets railroaded by said cops, clinging to a very simple desire, to be reunited with her son. Her obstinacy drives the cops to distraction and gives them a metric shit-ton of bad publicity. So far, decent plot. What else did the trailer show? Angelina in period clothes and hair/makeup looking desperate in a dominantly dreary environment. Her lines, given an absence of context, were suitable for the plot. Her histrionics may or may not have been appropriate. So why the hate, given this little information? Because she's in the bloody tabloids every single day? I thought you were better than that! What kind of open-mindedness writes off a film merely because of an irritation with one of its actors? I know, I know, scathing and bitchy. Is it too much to ask for intelligent, justificable scathing and bitchy?

Now, as for the nekkid and wet Angelina, I just take it as evidence that there is a God and he wants me to be happy. Very happy. Mm! Gonna watch me some Tomb Raider and Mr & Mrs Smith tonight! (Shut up, ladyhelmet loves that kind of action movie, and well if Jolie's in it, I can guarantee I'll take one for the team and not complain one bit. She doesn't like me rewinding and replaying a scene in slow-motion more than twice, for some reason.)

Posted by: lordhelmet at September 12, 2008 1:55 PM

I momentarily confused AJ with Keira Knightley... same jaw that could cut cheese. I wish this current phase of q-tips with wigs would end in Hollywood, it's incredibly distracting.

Posted by: snapnhiss at September 12, 2008 3:47 PM

Honestly, I'm more interested in Donovan, who's been awesome since the U.S. Touching Evil, and Colm Feore. Ah, character actors.

Posted by: Bob at September 12, 2008 3:52 PM

i'm with lordhelmet

Posted by: CiCi at September 12, 2008 3:57 PM

I had the same reaction: Whatever, Oscar bait, Ange--hey, Jeffrey Donovan! Yaaaaay!!

Posted by: june at September 12, 2008 5:28 PM

I'm in with all the 'huh?' on the Mystic River praise. It wasn't awful, but the acting was way overdone and it was just too obvious whodunit.

You know what? I'm also baffled that people think John Malcovich a great actor. He's intense, sure. But, the man doesn't have any range. He plays John Malcovich - there's always that effeminate voice and sometimes he wears glasses. That's it.

Jeffrey Donovan is starting to win me over with "Burn Notice," though. I'm glad he's getting more exposure.

Posted by: LB at September 12, 2008 9:43 PM

Jeffrey Donvan is the shit. I'm pretty sure Michael Westen could kick even Jack Bauer's ass.

Posted by: Mimi at September 12, 2008 10:41 PM

Erm, Donovan. WHY DON'T I PREVIEW MY COMMENTS.

Posted by: Mimi at September 12, 2008 10:43 PM

I love me some Jeffery Donovan. He cracks me up in Burn Notice

Posted by: Lea at September 13, 2008 1:25 PM

Jeffery Donovan is hot. Uh, I mean, I really appreciated his acting range in Touching Evil (may it rest in peace!) and have been waiting for him to show up in more movies. Dude's hilarious.

...and hot.

Posted by: BiblioGeek at September 13, 2008 7:39 PM

"Can anyone name a Jolie movie in which she doesn't appear wet and nekkid?"

If such a movie exists, I don't want to see it.

Posted by: monkey_b at September 15, 2008 4:07 AM

ANgelina and her stupid existence can sit and spin, I'm seeing this for Donovan, I've adored him and thought him an extraordinary talent since the US version of touching evil(wildly underrated show by the way and I'd seen the original!)

He does indeed look AWESOME in this

fuck off Jolie.
Malkovich....I'll see it for Malkovich too

But mostly Donovan

Does....Is it only me who thinks that...while she's oscar nommed and all...that Angelina isn't actually...um....good?

oh fuck me she really is just imitating Penn in that last scene jesus fuck Jolie!!!! get your own worthy talent and stop SUCKING

Posted by: nadine at September 17, 2008 6:10 AM

Oh and wholeheartedly agree with BiblioGeek

Donovon is Hot

Hot like the sun

Posted by: Nadine at September 17, 2008 6:17 AM

I agree on A. Jolie. She's beautiful, no doubt about that... but I'm just not as enthralled with her acting as everyone else seems to be. I loved her at first in Girls interrupted. And, honestly, I loved her fun and campy role as Laura Croft. But then it seemed like she got all full of herself and left her fans in that particular film series in the dirt - like she decided she was too good for that sort of action role. We need more women to play roles like that - action heroes who aren't just gonna drop and spread em - ones that are gonna drop and take you out. ;p

Love Donovan. I've been enjoying the fluff humor of his TV series Burn Notice with Bruce Campbell.

Malcovich is so wonderful. He's awesome in most anything I have seen him do.

Sean Penn - Ugh... may as well have him star in the movie named "Penn - the quest for an oscar" He's trying everything he can to get one... mentally challenged role? Check and Epic Fail. Now, he's going after playing a Gay guy. Check and we'll see. It's like he's taken out Tom Hanks step by step path to an Oscar playbook and is workin it hard. Well... good luck with that. Hanks he is not. He's got such amazing comedic talent and he's squandered it trying to legitimize himself as a "serious" actor. We get it already, you ARE a serious actor... relax and just do your thing. Feels like you are trying too hard.

Posted by: Snaps at November 22, 2008 10:46 AM

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