Whoever wrote the above words needs to have their head examined. True stories are not spec-script, 90 minute material; and I happened to walk out thinking the movie was perfect — and brilliantly focused.

The movie “The Changeling” is fascinating from beginning to end; and Angelina Jolie, Clint Eastwood — and the picture — will be Oscar winners.

One thing that I felt was that it’s an unabashadly old-fashioned movie–not subtle at all. You know when they appear who’s good and who’s bad, even Amy Ryan (not Adams, I think, Harry), who manages to make the plucky cell mate/saintly hooker role work. Malkovich is awesome. Everyone’s good. If there’s any problem, it’s because the subject matter is so grim, you can’t really let yourself enjoy the film too much. Sad to realize that police corruption is one of L.A.’s oldest traditions.

I was fortunate enough to see a screening where Eastwood spoke afterward, and he mentioned how he keeps his set quiet, and with the child actors he often never had the a.d. call out “rolling,” and he seldom calls “action,” instead signaling quietly to the cameraman to roll, then working the kids through the performances. Then he grinned and explained he learned that trick from working with orangutans. His direction is based a lot on his experiences as an actor-he understands their insecurity (and how insecure they are working for HIM), and knows how to mold the performance and keep them comfortable, not always an easy task. He also described the challenge of finding appropriate locations in L.A. that still look period, and his method of auditioning largely through tapes rather than meeting people face to face. He said he still learns on every movie he does, and loves his work. (and said there were a few scenes he cut, including a pretty good chase scene involving the mounties) Just a fine old gentleman. A little stiffer now, maybe, but a true movie star.

Hey, DH, do you have a top-5 Eastwood list?