Changeling (2008) Dir. Clint Eastwood

Inspired by a true story, Angelina Jolie is Christine Collins, a single parent to ten year old boy Walter. They live in a modest house in Los Angeles.

Set in 1928, the meloncony mood is conveyed from the start through Clint Eastwood's elevator-esq score. Christine has a job as a roller skating telephone supervisor and cinematically the scenes here are fantastic to the naked eye.

The plot begins when Christine comes home from work to find Walter missing - The long search for him begins and the film concentrates on the devious and corrupted nature of the LAPD. When they claim to have found her son, Christine is keen to be reunited with him. However she instantly realises that this boy isn't her son.

The strength of the film is merely down to the issue at hand, injustice and Jolie's hypnotising performance and character. She is declared insane and sent to a Psychiatric Asylum and the film shines light on the inhumane treatments that took place there.

Throughout the film one feels exhausted due to the emotional roller coaster this roller skater is going through; the fight for a mother to find her son in a corrupt world is portrayed in the most sensitive of manners.

The ex-prostitute that Christine meets in the Asylum is a ridiculous slip up in the film. She does not fit well in the twenties and instead looks like she should have a part in Eastenders circa 1980.

Jolie said she based the character of Christine Collins on her late mother whom shared similar character traits such as; retaining a composed manner at all times, dutiful, good and honest. The audience can sense Jolie has put her heart into this character. However, at times Jolie looks like she is attending a fancy dress party - Her make up is over the top and there is something that just doesn't fit.

The film is a must see as it is clearly going to be a favourite for an Oscar. According to The Times Online it's ninety percent true and above all it's a tear jerker with a great plot, outlining the major faults of the LAPD. Even though the outcome is obvious, the film has many strengths.

Sliding Doors (1998) Dir. Peter Howitt

Sliding Doors is a film outlining how the paths of our life can drastically differ accordingly on missing / catching that train.

Gwyneth Paltrow gives an outstanding performance as the trendy, thirty-something Londoner in this romantic comedy with an edge.

Once the film begins you instantly become comfortable and interested in the screen. The funky soundtrack adds to the overall style of the film and the feeling of fate and something spiritually beautiful connecting the world together is felt.

So, Paltrow is sacked from her big shot PR job - goes to the train station to get the train home back to her pathetic unemployed boyfriend & she misses the train. The film becomes sharp as we see the reverse situation; Paltrow managing to get on that train.

Actor, Producer, Writer & Director, Peter Howitt proves to be exceptionally talented in the movie business, making a minor appearance in this film as the cheeky bloke as well as being the writer of the film.

Sliding Doors is a film about life, hope and fate. It is an easy watch, containing witty one liners and lots of endearing characters that shine light on a city that has a reputation for being the loneliest city in England.